Sudden closure of VIT Road at Katpadi for bull race causes hardship to motorists

Sudden closure of VIT Road in Katpadi for bull race diverts traffic, causing inconvenience to motorists in Vellore.

The sudden closure of VIT Road at Katpadi for a day-long bull race on Thursday forced hundreds of motorists to take a 15 km detour to reach areas like Tiruvalam, Sekkadu, Vallimalai, Vellore Old Town, Sathuvachari, and educational institutions like VIT and Thiruvalluvar University.

Traffic on Katpadi Main Road was blocked after police personnel placed barricades at the tri-junction at Chittoor bus stand. .

Motorists from Vellore were barred from taking the right turn to VIT Road to reach places like Tiruvalam, Ranipet SIPCOT. Vehicles including government buses, school vans and ambulances were diverted. “Traffic police have not made any prior announcements about traffic changes on the key route. We were suddenly diverted to use the alternative route to reach our destinations,” said R. Sugumar, a motorist.

Motorists said that VIT Road is also a key bus route for town buses. Commuters in surrounding villages were affected due to closure of the stretch.

Officials of the Department of Animal Husbandry, which monitors the bull race, said around 80 villages in the district were allowed to organise the event, which would go up to May. Of this, around 60 villages had completed it.

Permission was given by Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi only to those villages that organise the event every year. “Veterinary teams will be deployed in each village to ensure safety of animals. Police and firefighters will also be roped in to prevent any untoward incidents,” G. Anduvan, Assistant Director, Department of Animal Husbandry (Vellore), told The Hindu.