Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has ordered an investigation after reports that traffic restrictions for his official convoy could have led to a number of students missing their Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) in the Pendurthi region.
One parent claimed that about 30 students were impacted on Monday, saying they were refused entry to the exam despite multiple requests. One such parent, Anil Kumar, stated that if he had received a temporary relaxation by the exam center, his daughter might have not missed the test, which could have saved her academic year.Reacting to the controversy, Kalyan’s office issued a statement highlighting his concern for public inconvenience while carrying out official duties. He has instructed the Visakhapatnam police to identify the length of traffic halts for his convoy, evaluate traffic conditions on the roads to the exam centers, and analyze any traffic management on service roads. The Deputy Chief Minister emphasized that traffic should be stopped only briefly during official movement and pointed out that even during helicopter travel, road traffic is not interrupted.
Also, Kalyan’s office renewed earlier instructions to party workers and leaders to eschew acts that may contribute to traffic jam, like crane garlands or events that will cause roadblocks. These are always conveyed and followed during his visits.
Contrarily, the Visakhapatnam police released a statement refuting any link between the Deputy Chief Minister’s convoy and the students’ tardiness. They explained that Kalyan’s convoy went through the area at 8:41 AM, while students were supposed to report by 7:00 AM and not later than 8:30 AM.
This event has raised questions about the balance between official procedure and public convenience, particularly at times of importance in academic life. The investigation findings are expected to shed light on the issue.
