LUCKNOW, Feb. 12 -- Thousands of commuters in central Lucknow were caught in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Wednesday as traffic diversions, VVIP movement and school dispersal coincided to choke key routes of the city. With pre-announced diversions already in place around Hazratganj due to the Assembly session, traffic pressure mounted after proceedings ended and VIP convoys began moving out. The situation worsened as schools in the vicinity closed around the same time, flooding roads with buses, vans and private vehicles. Major stretches including MG Marg (Hazratganj), Vidhan Sabha Marg, Kalidas Marg, and the Cantonment area were severely affected. Jams were reported from Park Road, Parivartan Chowk and roads near Raj Bhawan. The worst-hit pockets included the stretch from Loreto Convent School to Somnath Dwar, Parivartan Chowk to Atal Chowk, and the entire Park Road corridor. Vehicles crawled at a snail's pace, with commuters reporting delays of over an hour. Office-goers, parents waiting outside schools, patients headed to hospitals and daily wage earners were all caught in the chaos. The traffic situation began easing only after 3 pm. Frustration spilled onto social media, with several residents criticising what they described as "VIP culture overriding public convenience." One user posted a jam video on X and wrote, "Severe traffic jam from 1090 to the Chief Minister's residence. Officers are holding meeting after meeting to fix traffic arrangements, but the result is zero." "I was stuck outside my child's school for nearly 50 minutes. There was no movement at all," said Neha Srivastava, a parent waiting near Park Road. "If authorities knew about the budget session, why wasn't school timing adjusted?" Rajeev Verma, an office-goer going from Hazratganj towards Cantt, said, "Every time there is a VVIP movement, the entire city suffers. We understand security concerns, but there has to be better coordination."...