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Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
J'khand bandh disrupts city life, biz incur losses
Ranchi: A statewide Jharkhand Bandh called by several tribal organisations brought parts of Ranchi to a standstill on Wednesday, with the epicentre of protest being the controversial ramp of the Siramtoli flyover. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Protesters alleged that the ramp has encroached upon a Sarna religious site and demanded its immediate removal, citing it as an attack on indigenous identity and sacred traditions. Hundreds of protestors, led by outfits such as the Adivasi Bachao Morcha, marched from Line Tank Road to Albert Ekka Chowk and called on the shopkeepers to down their shutters. The 12-hour bandh, which began at 6 am, disrupted traffic in Lalpur, Dibdih, and Kutchery Chowk, while roadblocks and demonstrations occurred at Piska More and Jail More. In Kanke, effigies were burnt as a symbolic protest. In Boreya, tyres were set ablaze to block roads. Police personnel baton-charged on demonstrators to disperse them from Hinoo Chowk in a bid to clear the road. The demonstrators at least four people were hurt in the lathi charge. Ranchi's business community also bore the brunt of the statewide bandh with Paresh Gattani, president of Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries, estimating that losses ran to the tune of Rs 100 crore. "We have been raising this issue for months now. This government has failed the Adivasis. Our places of worship are being bulldozed in the name of development. We demand the ramp's removal immediately," said Bablu Munda, president of Kendriya Sarna Samiti. Ranchi sub-divisional officer Utkarsh Kumar said, "Emergency services were fully functional. At Hinoo Chowk, the protesters were being removed only to allow the smooth passage of passengers. There was minimal use of force to ensure mobility,"
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Tribal body wants Siramtoli ramp work to be suspended
1 2 Ranchi: The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) on Tuesday directed the Jharkhand govt to immediately halt all construction and inauguration work on the Siramtoli Flyover ramp until a final decision is made, following sustained protests by a section of tribal communities .The controversy centres around the ramp's alignment, which significantly restricts access to the Kendriya Sarna Sthal , tribal's religious site. A narrow 14-foot-wide gap has been left between the ramp and the Sarna ground, which tribal groups argue is insufficient for the scale of their religious processions and Kendriya Sarna Sthal, established in the 1960s by tribal leader Kartik Oraon, is a historic and spiritual site where thousands gather to celebrate Sarhul, one of Jharkhand's most important tribal April 4, the Kendriya Sarna Samiti and Chadri Sarna Samiti submitted a formal petition to the NCST demanding intervention. Responding to this, NCST member Asha Lakra conducted a site inspection on Tuesday along with commission officials and tribal representatives. "The Sarna Sthal is not an ordinary location but a cultural and spiritual heartbeat of Jharkhand's tribal communities. Under Article 338A (8), no construction activity is allowed when a case is under consideration by the commission," Asha said. Angel Lakra, spokesperson of the Kendriya Sarna Samiti, highlighted the site's historical roots, "This sacred place was built in the 1960s by Kartik Oraon for Sarhul celebrations. It's not just land; it's a living piece of our heritage. Any obstruction here is deeply offensive."Asha reiterated the Commission's stance, "Proceeding with construction despite the ongoing case is not just a legal violation; it's a direct affront to tribal religious sentiments. Until the investigation concludes, all activity must cease."Bablu Munda, president of the Kendriya Sarna Samiti, criticised the state govt's handling of the matter, "Despite months of peaceful protests and petitions, the Hemant Soren-led 'Adivasi govt' has shown apathy. The ramp was built under police protection, brushing aside tribal concerns."The Rs 340-crore, 2.3-km-long flyover project includes an elevated road and a cable-stayed bridge. While the govt touts it as a major infrastructure initiative, its clash with tribal religious rights has sparked a significant socio-political debate.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Protests over Siromtoli on as construction nears completion
1 2 Ranchi: The controversial ramp of the Siromtoli flyover has reached the final stage of construction under heavy force deployment, even as strong protests by tribal groups continue to mount since January. The primary concern of the tribals' centres around the flyover's ramp, which ends near the Siromtoli Sarna Sthal, a sacred site where they perform their religious rituals, particularly during the Sarhul festival. According to them, the ramp is going to cause inconvenience to lakhs of devotees gathered at the site during the sacred festival. Despite the protests, the construction of the ramp is completed except some minor works, according to a senior official. Speaking to TOI, Manohar Kumar chief engineer of road construction department said, "The construction of the ramp has almost completed except for installing crash barriers to prevent vehicles from veering by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People Aged 50-85 With No Life Insurance Could Get This Reassured Get Quote Undo off the bridge. That apart, another few works including load testing of the flyover is also pending. So, the inauguration date of the flyover has not been finalised yet but the works will complete soon. The construction of the flyover started in September 2022." Another official of the department said that the flyover is most likely to be inaugurated by June this year. As the construction is nearing its completion, tribal leaders continued to express their anger and discontent over the govt's adamant attitude towards their concern. The 2.3 km long project, which consists an elevated road and a cable-stayed bridge, is being constructed at a cost of Rs 340 crores. The flyover connecting Siromtoli Chowk and Mecon Chowk is expected to smoothen traffic flow once operational. Babloo Munda, president of Kendriya Sarna Samiti, told TOI that the Hemant Soren govt has betrayed the tribals and crushed their hopes. "We elected him as the chief minister for the second term with very high hopes that he would safeguard our rights, but he did the exact opposite. The ramp construction near the Sarna Sthal has narrowed down the approach way, which will pose a risk of stampede during the Sarhul from next year. With this, the govt has put the lives of tribals in jeopardy as well," Munda added. The tribal groups took many activities in the past four months including forming human chains stretching from Morabadi ground to the state assembly, and a dawn to dusk Ranchi bandh in April, to draw attention to the controversial project. During the recent budget session of the Jharkhand assembly taking note of strong protests by the tribal community, speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto directed the treasury benches to ensure that the community does not face any hurdles in celebrating their festivals due to construction of Siromtoli flyover.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Tribal groups protest after flyover ramp construction resumes under tight security
Ranchi: Tension mounted in Siromtoli on Friday after Ranchi district administration deployed security personnel to resume the construction of the Siromtoli flyover's ramp. Tribal communities had protested the construction of the ramp and claimed that it impeded their religious site, the Sarna Sthal . The construction was halted before Sarhul festivities last month. The situation escalated on Thursday night after construction materials were dumped on the site. Reacting swiftly, tribal communities descended to the streets in protest. Babloo Munda, president of Kendriya Sarna Samiti , said, "The National Scheduled Tribe Commission had ordered an investigation following our April 4 complaint and directed chief secretary, urban development department's secretary, Ranchi deputy commissioner and the administrator of Ranchi Municipal Corporation to submit a report within five days. Despite this, construction was resumed and access to our religious site was restricted." Authorities had previously demolished a section of the under-construction flyover before the Sarhul festival in March, but tribal groups are demanding permanent removal of the ramp. Tribal outfits also enforced a bandh in the city to mark their protest. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Ranchi Sadar subdivisional officer Utkarsh Kumar said security deployment was purely precautionary. "We had intelligence about possible law and order issues, but the day passed without incident," he said. Former state minister Geetashree Oraon, who led the protests, said, "The govt remains stubborn despite tribal opposition." Ranchi MLA CP Singh, who also visited the site on Friday and met the protestors, announced that CM Hemant Soren would meet the community members over the issue after returning from Europe. The tribal outfits will protest at Albert Ekka Chowk on Saturday.
