Visakhapatnam: To ensure smooth conduct of Sirimanotsavam, the traffic police department had imposed several restrictions on all kinds of vehicles in Vizianagaram town. However, these regulations created much confusion rather than convenience for the devotees attending the Sri Pydithalli Ammavaru festival.
The vehicles were not allowed in the areas surrounding the fort and Pydithalli Ammavari temple from Monday onwards. There was no space allocated for parking of two-wheelers and four-wheelers. The motorists kept their bikes on the roadside, and this led to chaotic scenes during the two days.
The stretch from Balaji Junction to Jonnaguddi was full of vehicles parked haphazardly on the roads. Even the stretch of Lanka Veedhi to Ring Road area was blocked by vehicles during the time the cultural programmes were going on at the Ayodhya Maidanam. Though the traffic police fined some motorists, irregular parking was rampant all over the town.
“The cops stopped the vehicles by placing barricades at important junctions. They should have allotted proper parking areas around the fort. It took 15 minutes to find a place to park my vehicle and 45 minutes to free it from the maze of haphazardly parked vehicles. Wary of such traffic issues, many locals are not visiting Sirimanotsavam,” said Kali Prasad, of Thamarapalli village.
Expressing similar views, Rajesh Sarma, a resident of Vuda Colony said: “Unable to control the crowd, the police constables push the people with lathis. I am wary of attending Sirimanotsavam with family members. We prefer watching the celebrations live on TV instead of going directly and suffering the ill-treatment at the hands of police personnel.”
Lakhs of devotees from North Andhra region and the neighbouring states come to the fort city to see Sirimanu procession every year. It is believed that the deity blesses the devotees in the form of a priest, who encircles the fort thrice on a wooden chariot on the Tuesday after Dasara.
The police department made all arrangements for a smooth handling of the devotees. CCTV cameras and tight security were in place so that the public was not inconvenienced.
Along with the district administration, the local organisations also provided many facilities to the devotees. Still, people faced problems at the important areas near the temple.
