Vehicles barred from Jubilee Park till March 9

JAMSHEDPUR: Commuters taking the Kadma-Sakchi and Sonari-Mango road may face traffic snarls for the next 20 days as the East Singhbhum district administration has decided to close the stretch of road through the Jubilee Park to allow Jusco to prepare for Founder’s Day celebration on March 3.
Jusco, the custodian of the iconic park, recently approached the east Singhbhum district administration, requesting it to stop movement of vehicles through the park road between February 18 and March 9, so that it can install lightings for the mega annual event.
An official of Jusco said the company it cannot take the risk of allowing vehicles inside the park during the installation of variety of lighting works. “The safety of the people is paramount and the ban on the movement of vehicles is part of the precaution we have taken for the celebration,” Jusco’s divisional manager (corporate communication and event management) Rajesh Rajan said. He clarified that there is no ban on entry of morning-walkers and visitors to the park.
Close to 50,000 vehicles, including cars, auto-rickshaws and motorbikes, move through the park road every day.
“The temporary closure of the park gate for vehicles is to ensure Founder’s Day celebration preparations go on smoothly,” SDM (Dhalbhum) Chandan Kumar said.
Many locals who take the stretch regularly said they will miss their journey through the park. “Although the route through the park cuts only 500 metres of distance, it is a pleasure travelling through the tree-lined avenue,” Kadma-resident S N Pathak said, adding, “However, once the route is closed, the rush of vehicles on Kadma-Sakchi main road will choke traffic during peak hours.”
At present vehicular movement through the park remains suspended every Sunday.
Tata Group organises the Founder’s Day every year on March 3 to commemorate the birth anniversary of the steel major’s founder Jamshetji Nusserwanji Tata. Elaborate arrangements are made and the Steel City is decked up with lights.