Ahmedabad traffic was severely disrupted on October 8 after the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Employees’ Association held a protest at the civic body’s main office in Danapith over pending demands. The demonstration blocked access to the municipal office and caused congestion from Khamsa to Ellisbridge, affecting motorists, pedestrians and emergency vehicles for about two hours.
According to Divya Bhaskar, the employees’ association organised a sit-in outside the Danapith headquarters on Thursday afternoon using a DJ music system. Two trucks and the sound equipment were placed outside the office, while a large number of employees joined the protest. The two gates of the municipal building were also blocked, stopping movement in and out of the premises.
The protest on one side of the road led to traffic congestion across an area extending between one and 1.5 kilometres, the report said. Municipal officials and people visiting the civic office had to leave their vehicles on one side of the road. Other motorists also parked vehicles irregularly, adding to the disruption.
The congestion affected proceedings at the civic administration as well. Some officials reached the Standing Committee meeting late after the protest began, according to the report. The disruption also affected pedestrians, who had difficulty crossing or moving through the area while the sit-in continued.
Ambulances and 108 emergency vehicles carrying patients were reportedly able to pass through the traffic only with difficulty. The incident highlights how protests outside a central civic office can quickly affect access to municipal services, nearby roads and emergency movement in a dense urban area.
The report said the AMC commissioner promised a resolution to the employees’ concerns. The employees’ association’s demands were described as pending issues, but the supplied report did not provide a detailed list of those demands. The next steps will depend on discussions between the association and the municipal administration.
