Monday afternoon saw Ma Mati Manush leader Mamata Banerjee take a brisk walk and an autorickshaw ride to reach the airport on time.

But for her, it was not a matter of choice. Already late for a flight to Delhi, the Trinamool Congress chief and Railway Minister had encountered a Muharram procession on the VIP Road. Her solution was to simply get off her car, walk past the jammed stretch and take an autorickshaw — leaving flummoxed security guards and police personnel scrambling in her wake.

Banerjee was to take the IC-201 flight scheduled to depart at 5 pm. Her convoy left her Kalighat home around 3.15 pm. Mukul Roy, the Union Minister of State for Shipping, escorted her.

Around 4.30 pm, the convoy reached Kaikhali on the VIP crossing. But the stretch was jam-packed owing to a passing Muharram procession.

The security personnel wanted to clear the road. “But she asked us not to disturb the procession and getting off the car, started walking. We were shocked,” said one of the security personnel escorting her.

After a 10-minute walk ¿ which left passers-by agape — Banerjee and Roy reached the autorickshaw stand on Kaikhali crossing.

Then, to everyone’s surprise, they sat inside an auto and rode off, leaving security officers to run behind.

She reached the entry gate of NSC Bose airport on time. Later, she said: “I am on time, but the flight should wait since many passengers are stranded in the jam.”