Patna, Jan. 19: Motorists may find it difficult to manoeuvre through the city traffic, but religious processions have a free run on the busy thoroughfares.

The Bailey Road today witnessed heavy traffic congestion as a religious procession passed through the arterial road. School buses, people returning from office and other commuters had a difficult time passing through the road.

The procession was taken out by Mansa Puran Devi Sai Shiv Kripa Mandir to mark the first foundation day of the shrine.

The procession, which began from Raja Bazaar around 2pm, passed through Bailey Road before reaching Rajvanshi Nagar. From Rajvanshi Nagar, it made a U-turn and again passed through Bailey Road, before arriving at Jagdeo Path, covering more than 6km.

The traffic was stuck on both sides of the road causing endless misery for the commuters.

Ankit Raj, who works at the office of a private telecom operator on Boring Road, said: “I have been waiting for more than an hour to cover 2km.” Ankit, who was riding his bike, said: “It seems 0as if my bike is crawling. There is hardly any traffic movement.”

Ankit was not the only one. There were several other harried commuters.

Varsha Sinha, a student of Patna Women’s College, who was returning home on a rickshaw, said: “My classes end at 3pm and now it is almost 4pm. It has taken me almost an hour to cover two-and-a-half kilometres. On other days, it takes 15 minutes.”

The procession also hit school buses. Most schools give over at that time and students were left stranded on the road. Even ambulances were not spared, which were crawling.

Dharmendra Kumar, a committee member of Mansa Puran Devi Sai Shiv Kripa Mandir, said: “We accept that owing to our procession, commuters have to face traffic problems. But its is only once in a year that we organise such a rally.”

On being asked about difficulties faced by school students and patients in ambulances, he said: “There is an alternative road, which passes beside the airport. The school buses and ambulances should have taken that route, which is generally traffic-free.”

However, the traffic personnel posted to man traffic were mute spectators to the chaos around them.

A constable standing at Sheikhpura Mor said: “We admit that the commuters are facing problems. But as it is a religious procession, we can’t use force in clearing traffic.”

A Mansa Puran Devi Sai Shiv Krupa Mandir member said they had sought permissions from the SDO’s office, the secretariat police station, the airport police station and the Shastri Nagar police station to take out the procession.

City superintendent of police Kim said: “Permissions have to be taken from the authorities to take out such rallies. But there are groups that sometimes do not take permission. I cannot confirm whether the organisation that took out the rally had sought prior permission or not.”

What: Traffic stalled on road stretching from Raja Bazaar to Rajvanshi Nagar.

Why: Mansa Puran Devi Sai Shiv Krupa Mandir had organised its first foundation day procession

Duration: 2pm till 6pm

Impact: Long queues of vehicles were seen on both sides of road, which covers a stretch of more than 2.5km

Victims: School and college students, people returning home from office

We accept that owing to our procession, commuters have to face traffic problems. But its is only once in a year that we organise such a rally

Dharmendra Kumar, a committee member of Mansa Puran Devi Sai Shiv Krupa Mandir

Permissions have to be taken from authorities to take out such rallies. However, many a times there are groups that do not take permission. I cannot confirm whether the organisation that took out the rally had sought prior permission or not

City superintendent of police Kim