I was treated like an accused by some of the Mumbai police officers for requesting them to make way for my Ola ride at the Bandra-Worli Sea Link while I was rushing my ailing father to the hospital.
At 10:20 am, I reached the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, hoping to make it to my 10:45 am appointment at Wockhardt Hospital, Bombay Central.
To my surprise, all vehicles were halted, while the adjacent lane was cleared for a VIP convoy.
I waited patiently for 15 minutes, trusting the toll representatives who assured me that vehicles would be allowed to pass after 10 minutes.
By 10:40 am, I was still stuck, and frustration led me to confront the toll representatives who insisted I stay in the car.
While the convoy passed, I recorded a brief video clip, only to be told to stop filming. My driver was asked to park aside, and I was approached by a senior police officer after a toll representative complained about me, just because I took the video.
The officers and toll staff surrounded me, took photos of my press card, noted my details, and even clicked my photo without consent. When confronted, they claimed it was for protocol, though I forced them to delete my photo.
Despite explaining my urgency and asking if they would take responsibility for my father’s condition, the senior officer insisted on following the convoy protocol. They claimed ambulances would be given priority, but I was skeptical of their claim.
The behavior of the senior officer and toll staff was rude, inhumane, and outright harassment. Their actions delayed me and caused me to nearly miss my appointment, despite my pleas for urgency.
The convoy’s passage should have been planned with parallel arrangements to avoid halting common citizens unnecessarily. There was no prior announcement of the road blocking. Incidents like these weaken public trust in the police, who should empathise with citizens rather than adding to their troubles.
Who’s at fault: the common man or rigid protocols?