THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Traffic in the city was disrupted for hours due to the NDA's blockade of the secretariat against the government. Two-wheeler passengers had to wait in the sun for a long time. Those who had to go to the office and hospitals suffered the most. People were similarly distressed during the UDF blockade that happened a few days ago. As the traffic on MG road came to a complete standstill yesterday, all the places where the vehicles were diverted to by the police were stuck in a traffic jam.

As the blockade started at 8:30 pm on Sunday, the traffic in front of the Secretariat was reduced to a single lane. By yesterday morning, activists had taken over both sides of the road. The stage was raised in front of the North and South gates and party workers lined up around it. The secretariat staff entered through the cantonment gate. AGS office staff were also allowed to pass through this gate. No one else was allowed to pass through these gates.

The vehicles of employees and ministers were allowed to pass from the bakery junction side. Police barricades were put up in front of the AGS office and near the secretariat's second annex. Even pedestrians were not allowed to pass through at either place. Bakery Junction, PMG, Kaithamukku, Uppidamoodu Bridge and Vanchiyur Thampanoor sections experienced heavy congestion. All the interroads were jammed along with this. As even large vehicles took to the side roads to bypass the traffic jams, the vehicles became immobile for long periods of time. The employees, including those of the garment trade establishments in Palayam and Statue areas, walked kilometres to work. Employees of government and private institutions also could not reach work on time.