Bokaro Election Nominations Trigger Major Traffic Gridlock in Chas
Traffic movement in Bokaro's Chas area remained completely paralyzed throughout Monday as a continuous stream of political candidates and their enthusiastic supporters converged at the office of the subdivisional magistrate to file nominations for the upcoming February 23 elections. The massive influx created unprecedented congestion that brought key national highways to a standstill for several hours, exposing significant gaps in administrative preparedness.
National Highways Brought to a Halt by Political Processions
The procession of candidates accompanied by their supporters completely blocked traffic movement on the crucial NH-32 for extended periods, while long queues were reported at the strategically important ITI intersection. This critical junction, which connects multiple routes, stalled traffic movement on NH-23 as well, creating a domino effect of congestion throughout the region. The handful of police personnel deployed for duty found themselves completely outnumbered by the swelling crowds, unable to manage the chaotic situation effectively.
Rajesh Kumar, a frustrated commuter who experienced the gridlock firsthand, expressed his dismay: "I was stuck for more than an hour near the ITI intersection. The administration knew nominations were starting today, yet there was no proper traffic management plan in place to handle this predictable situation."
Administration's Response and Public Anger Intensifies
The District Superintendent of Police for Traffic acknowledged the challenges, stating: "Our policemen tried their best to normalize the traffic flow under difficult circumstances. Based on today's situation, the administration is now prepared to deploy additional magistrates, more police personnel from the police line, and increase the number of traffic policemen significantly."
Adding to commuters' misery was the environmental discomfort caused by excessive dust and a foul stench emanating from a nearby municipal waste dump at the ITI intersection. These conditions intensified the discomfort during the prolonged traffic jam, creating additional health concerns for stranded motorists and pedestrians alike.
The situation triggered widespread public anger, with citizens openly questioning the district administration's preparedness despite having prior knowledge of the nomination schedule. Anil Mahto, an auto-rickshaw driver whose livelihood depends on daily mobility, highlighted the economic impact: "The dust and smell from the garbage dump made an already bad situation unbearable. We earn daily wages based on our mobility - every minute lost in traffic represents money lost from our pockets."
Political Processions Worsen Congestion Despite Security Measures
Although barricades and police deployment were in place at the SDM office gate itself, traffic control on adjoining roads and intersections remained largely ineffective. The arrival of mayor aspirant Bholu Paswan with a substantial number of supporters, followed by sizable processions accompanying candidates Vikas Pandey and Gajendra Prasad Himanshu, further exacerbated the congestion as these political entourages merged with existing traffic.
As the chaos continued throughout the day, stranded commuters became increasingly vocal in their criticism of what they perceived as poor planning and administrative mismanagement. Sunita Devi, an office-goer caught in the gridlock, summarized the sentiment of many: "With so many candidates and their supporters flooding the roads simultaneously, this traffic disaster was completely predictable. A handful of policemen simply cannot manage the traffic flow on two major national highways during such politically charged events."
The incident has raised serious questions about urban planning and administrative coordination during election periods in Bokaro, with residents demanding better contingency measures for future political events that inevitably draw large crowds to public offices.
