The national capital’s traffic movement took a hit on Tuesday as commuters faced multiple layers of barricades put up by the police in wake of the farmers’ march.
In a bid to restrict the farmers marching into Delhi, the movement was stopped at the Singhu and Tikri borders, while the same led city commuters to face tough time witnessing snarls, while section 144 is also invoked across the city in wake of the farmers’ march.
Roads leading to the Lutyens Delhi, especially the area around Parliament House had multiple pickets put in place and the cops conducted necessary checks, which also resulted in reducing the pace of traffic.
Several people who commute daily from Noida, Ghaziabad and other NCR places to Delhi faced traffic diversions at many places.
Delhi Police is on high alert and has geared up keeping in view the situation witnessed during the earlier farmers protest that took place in 2020- 21, when the farmer unions demanded to repeal the new farm laws.
Delhi Police had earlier issued traffic advisories for the motorists in wake of the proposed farmers march, asking them to take alternative routes.
For cars and light goods vehicles going towards Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal and place via NH- 44, the traffic police suggested to take routes through Palla Bakhtawarpur Road, Piau Maniyari Border to enter Haryana, Safiabad Border, and Auchandi Border to reach KMP expressway.
For traffic going to Ghaziabad through Ghazipur border, the police suggested Pushta road in front of Akshardham, Patparganj or Mother Dairy road or the Chaudhary Charan Singh Marg ISBT Anand Vihar and exit from Maharajpur or the Apsara border into Uttar Pradesh.
Similarly, for the vehicles going towards Bahadurgarh, Rohtak, the traffic police advised to use the Nangloi- Najafgarh road and to enter Haryana via the Najafgarh Jharoda border.
The traffic movement was very slow at the Ghazipur border area due to heavy security arrangements.
Meanwhile, the city has been put under heavy security as increased police presence was visible at many places with personnel in anti-riot gear deployed strategically.
The borders have been manned with extra force personnel, while concrete as well as metal barricades have also been installed to regulate access to important roads.
Security in the city has been stepped up, especially in the New Delhi zone with increased picketing and police checks being conducted at multiple points.
As per security instructions the Delhi Metro has also closed certain gates and selected metro stations that stations include, Central Secretariat, Rajiv Chowk, Udyog Bhawan, Patel Chowk, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, Janpath, Khan Market and the Lok Kalyan Marg station, however the Delhi Metro has said that the station will remain operational.
“Commuters are advised to plan their journey accordingly. Further update on station closures (if any) shall be intimated,” the Delhi Metro said, taking to platform X.
The protests in 2020- 21 were mainly against the new farm laws, while this time the farmer unions are heading towards Delhi over their demand of minimum support price for crops.