Patna, April 7: Bailey Road, one of the most important arterial roads of the city, has become a negotiating bait for protesters. Those who wish to draw the attention of the government and pressurise the authorities to bow to their demands hold the road to ransom through blockades and demonstrations.

As a result of protests, daily commuters, office-goers and schoolchildren suffer. The latest of protests to choke the thoroughfare was the ruckus created by members of the Musahar community yesterday and the day before. While the members of the community were protesting an alleged land-grab and subsequent firing on them by the henchmen of a construction company, innocent commuters had to run for cover.

The worst-hit were the students of a number of schools. They not only missed classes yesterday but were also stuck in traffic jams, a collateral damage of the protest.

“Schoolchildren are the worst sufferers. Many schools are situated on the stretch. Whenever there is a protest or roadblock, the students get stuck in jam. And if the students are in trouble, their parents are also stressed out,” said V.K. Mishra, whose children study in Delhi Public School, Danapur.

The other important schools in the area are Radiant International School, Gyan Niketan, DAV Public School and Army School.

“As my child’s school bus was stuck in a jam last morning. I rushed to the spot immediately,” said N. Singh, another parent.

On March 4, students of Government Middle School, Sheikhpura, under the Airport police station attacked the jawans of Bihar Military Police (BMP)’s sixth battalion, whose administrative office is located on the school premises. The students alleged harassment and eve-teasing by the men in uniform.

The students also blocked Rajabazaar area near Bailey Road for at least an hour.

Ramesh Kumar, an employee of the road construction department, said: “My colleagues and I go to work at the state secretariat everyday through Bailey Road. Whenever the road is blocked — and that happens very often — we go through hell. I had to skip work yesterday and the day before because of the ruckus. I was stuck in the traffic jam for hours and reached home late at night.”

A police officer said: “If there is a blockade at Dakbungalow roundabout, it can be removed easily. But this area is always busy. Large stretches are unmanned, so it is easier to block Bailey Road.”

Patients and employees of Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science (IGIMS), located in the area, suffer regularly because of strikes. Many patients from Danapur had to take circuitous routes to reach the health hub as the road was blocked.

“Patients from Danapur have a hard time when the road is blocked. On Wednesday, patients had to take long and alternative routes to reach the hospital,” said a nurse at IGIMS.

She added: “Something must be done to prevent this.”

Police officers accepted that the roadblocks were a major problem and the residents of the city had to bear the brunt of impromptu protests.

“This is the case not just on Bailey Road but all over the city. The common man has to suffer because of it. A jam on Bailey Road — a major thoroughfare — has a rippling effect across the city,” a police officer said.

He added: “We reach the spot immediately and try to resolve the problem. The administration takes all the necessary steps to remove a blockade but it might take time.”

But time, after all, is money. And roadblocks demand too much of it from Patna residents.