Citizens fume as cable bridge gets blocked to greet KTR

HYDERABAD: Netizens fumed after a video posted by BRS leader Aravind Alishetty on Twitter went viral, showing him posing on the Durgam Cheruvu cable bridge, with cars lined up behind him, to greet IT minister K.T. Rama Rao, on his 47th birthday here on Monday.

The vehicles' roofs were painted to greet the minister. The video clearly shows that the stretch, where he along with the vehicles stood, was blocked for traffic proceeding towards Jubilee Hills, while there was a free flow of traffic on the other side.

Despite netizens tagging them on Twitter, police did not take any action on this violation.

When Deccan Chronicle contacted the law and order and traffic wings of Cyberabad under whose jurisdiction the spot falls, they claimed to have no knowledge of when the video was shot and also if permission was given to use drones for the video. “It did not come to our notice,” police said. “We will verify.”

The video was posted at 9.47 pm on Sunday. Alishetty’s Twitter bio reads, “Representing youth & social media activities BRS Party !!! Ardent follower of Sri @ktrbrs garu !!! (sic).  The exact date and time of shooting the video could not be confirmed."

People questioned the police for allowing the event in the high-security area in the first place. Cyberabad police had prohibited stopping on the cable bridge carriageway or clicking selfies and pictures.

“Does any chance to take action against this sir. Or as usual, the common public should be fine for all small things. Why are rules separate for us and them (sic),” questioned Sai.

“Super.. you blocked the entire traffic to make this Video (sic),” wrote Ram.

Pointing to the same rule, Shashi Desh asked “Traffic halted for showoff ,is this okay ? For normal public just taking photographs is prohibited on cable bridge but neta ka birthday wishes is possible? (sic)”

Dr Dhishan wrote, “So celebrating our birthday's like this is legal now right? How come we can't stop our vehicles for a few minutes but here it looks like a roadblock!!! Dunno what you people are educating us (sic).”

Another user Vamshi asked if any permission was given to shoot such videos.

“What kind of nonsense is this” You block the traffic and do these activities? Are we, common people can also do this? What kind permission you got? Do things which makes sense (sic).”

“U gave permission for this by diverting the traffic (sic) , what nonsense is this?, “ wrote another user.

Some of them also advised the birthday boy not to encourage such ridiculous excesses.

“absolutely unnecessary, only garners bad name for KTR (sic),” wrote Harsh.

Meanwhile, others made fun of the video terming it as a desperate attempt to get a ticket (in the election). “Ticket Guarantee ... Public ki entha inconvenience aina parledu le.. (it does not matter how much inconvenience public face) (sic).”