Visakhapatnam: The Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister’s Office has ordered a probe into allegations by Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Mains candidates and their parents that they reached examination centres late on Monday morning due to traffic restrictions imposed during deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan’s movement. As many as 23 students were denied entry at one of the centres after they arrived late.
These candidates were supposed to appear for their JEE (Mains) at the Ayan Digital Centre in Visakhapatnam’s Pendurthi. Messages went viral on social media, indicating that these candidates could not reach the ION Digital Zone in Chinamushidiwada on time due to road closures.
The Visakhapatnam City Police denied this though. According to an official statement, the gates of JEE (Mains) examination centres closed at 8.30 am, while the deputy CM’s convoy passed the area only at 8.41 am. “Hence, it is clear that the movement of the Hon’ble Deputy CM through that area cannot have any link to the late arrival of students.” It has been stated by the police.
It has also been maintained that no traffic was blocked on the BRTS Road or the adjacent service roads before 8.30 am, ‘specifically to facilitate the smooth passage for exam candidates.’
The DyCMO, however, stated that the allegations are serious. In a statement, it said: “The deputy chief minister has clearly instructed that people should not face any difficulties during his tours. We have constantly told officials to minimise traffic disruptions, and the same protocol was followed during this visit as well.”
Kalyan’s office has also directed the police to investigate how long the convoy disrupted traffic, what the traffic conditions were on student routes, and whether any traffic control measures affected access to the examination centre.
Some guardians, however, claimed that they were forced to take diversions, following which they missed the 8.30 am deadline by a few minutes.
