Vrindavan, 2016.02.05 (VT): The Pandas of Vrindavan are opposed to the new traffic plan being executed on every weekend. A massive protest has begun in Vrindavan led by the Vrindavan Tirtha Purohits, who blamed the district administration of overlooking their economical interest. They have begun a relay fast in front of the gate of the Vrindavan Municipality, which entered its sixth day on Friday.
The traders, saints and hoteliers have come in support of the Brajwasi Panda Sabha, the organization that is leading the demonstration.
The demonstrators alleged that the district administration is arbitrarily enforcing the ban on the outside vehicles on the weekends. This plan is affecting the economy of Vrindavan, which is largely depended on the visitors and tourists. Most of the people come to Vrindavan on weekends when their cars are not allowed to enter in the town. So they go to the selected temples by public transport and don’t visit the other temples or stop in the markets.
Some of the demonstrators were heard saying that the District administration should change the current traffic plan and enforce a one way traffic system. No traffic police are seen on the street on weekends. The police should manage traffic in a systematic way instead of stopping visitors outside the town. They complained that no facility is being provided in the car parking.
On Thursday, the hoteliers of Vrindavan also came in support of the agitators. The Vrindavan hotels and guest house declared that no room will be booked on Friday between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. They said people visiting from the National Capital Region gets holiday on the weekends. If they are not given the entry in Vrindavan, they will go and spend their weekends in Haridwar and other places of tourism interests. The plan is seriously affecting the business.
It should be noted here that cars from outside are not allowed into most of Haridwar and parking is provided outside so that pilgrims and tourists are obliged to walk or take rickshaws into the town.
People came in support of the Traffic Plan
Amid the strong protests against the ‘no entry’ in Vrindavan on the weekends, the district administration finds a sigh of relief as the educationists, lawyers and the social workers have come in support of it. They appreciated the traffic plan, and threatened of begin the fast till death, if the district administration withdraws the plan.
Senior advocate Shri Bhagwan Sharma said, “The no-entry on the weekends have improved the traffic system in Vrindavan, which became a menace for the local residents. The locals couldn’t move in the town easily. The large number of vehicles made our life terrible with its pollution and congesting the town. The visitors used to complain about theft from their cars too.”
Jugal Kishor Saxena from the Vrindavan Lawyers Association and Shri Avnish Yadav said, “The locals are very happy with the enforcement of the ‘no-entry’ for the outside vehicles on the weekends. Vrindavan is known for peace and bhakti. The entry of the large number of vehicles on a single creates disturbance in the peace of the town. This plan is essential to get rid of the pollution, traffic jam and dirt.’
Shri Abhay Bashishtha, the president of Prayas, Manoj Kumar Sharma and Rajkumar Sharma also welcomed the ‘weekend traffic plan’ being enforced by the District Administration of Mathura. They have demanded to execute the same plan on the week days also. Devendra Sharma, Ashish Goswami, Bharat Bhushan Garg, Virendra Gupta, Umang Gupta, Harish Mukutwala, Prem Shankar, etc., also supported the plan of no entry on weekends.
Said one of the sants supporting the ban, ‘Once it is widely known that there is such a ban, people will come to accept it and the economy will improve. People who come by car enter the town and leave. Those who want to stay for a longer time will make arrangements to come when cars are allowed. Shops will have much greater business opportunities if the people are walking about. Give it some time. By Radharani’s mercy, this plan will be the best for everyone. We should not kill the goose that lays the golden egg by stifling it with traffic jams.’
Delegation meets the District Magistrate
A fraction of the Tirtha Purohits led by Shri Sanjay Ballabh Gautam met the District Magistrate, and explained him how the ‘weekend traffic plan’ of Vrindavan effecting their economy. The DM was ready to lift the ban for three hours between 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The delegation didn’t agree with the DM’s offer and decided to continue their protest against the ban on the vehicles to enter Vrindavan on the weekends.
Tirtha Purohits divided on bandh
Two days back on Wednesday, when the agitators called for a symbolic ‘bandh’ for two hours, the shops remained open, even after it being a week off day for the Vrindavan markets. Again they have appealed the traders to keep their shops closed on Friday and join them in the protest march to be organized at 1 p.m. from the Municipal Square. Another fraction of the Tirtha Purohits were not in favor of the bandh, as they believed that they required the support from the traders, not their economical loss.
Agra to adopt the Vrindavan plan
Agra Divisional Commissioner Pradeep Bhatnagar has expressed the opinion that the plan is being highly successful in Vrindavan and wishes to implement it in Agra, and also in Mathura as soon as possible. Its purpose, he said, ‘is aimed at increasing the ease of travelling for tourists inside the city limits, while also raising the image of Agra by a considerable margin in the eyes of the tourist.’
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