Farmers' Protest Leads To Massive Traffic Jams In Delhi-NCR, CJI Takes Note of Lawyers Stuck In Snarls

Massive traffic jams choked the entry and exit points of Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) as security personnel barricaded several routes ahead of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ farmers’ protest in the national capital.

Traffic snarls on the Delhi-Gurugram national highway early on Tuesday with vehicles queueing up one after the other on the route.

“I knew about the farmers coming towards Delhi today so I planned to go to office a hour earlier from my house in Sector 32 Gurugram but seeing the traffic situation it seems that I will reach my office at Barakhamba road one hour late,” said Ankush, a commuter stuck in the jam for at least an hour.

A traffic official said that more than two lakh people travel between Delhi and Gurugram every day during working hours. “It’s advisable to utilise the Metro for commuting as security measures have been implemented. Additionally, we’re continuously striving to redirect traffic alternative routes,” the official added.

Another traveler said, “I’m employed in Delhi, and I aimed to arrive at the office by 9 am. I departed from Gurugram at 6 am, but I am stuck in traffic for the past two hours.”

Meanwhile, heavy barricading at the Singhu Border left vehicles moving at a snail’s pace. At Tikri Border, queues of vehicles were seen going up to two kilometres.

Similarly, at the Ghazipur border as well, police have blocked the link roads, allowing only a single lane on the highway on both carriageways for vehicles to enter and exit the national capital.

The ITO intersection has also been heavily barricaded in view of the farmers’ protest march.

Major inconvenience was faced by commuters on the Rajokri border as they found themselves trapped in their vehicles for long hours.

SECTION 144 IN DELHI & SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS

The Delhi Police on Monday imposed section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) citywide and fortified the borders to ensure prevention of any untoward incident.

Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora issued these directives for the next 30 days to maintain law and order situation amid the farmers’ call to protest against the Centre.

To stop the farmers from entering Delhi, the police along with the paramilitary forces are deployed on the borders, including Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur. Cement blocks, pickets and nails have been installed on the approach roads.

A total of 114 companies, including 64 of paramilitary forces and 50 of Haryana Police, have been deployed across the places.

These units are stationed in the border areas with anti-riot gear and surveillance technologies such as drones and CCTV cameras to monitor any sort of disruptive activities.

CJI ACKNOWLEDGES TRAFFIC PROBLEM

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud acknowledged the inconveniences faced by lawyers amid the farmers’ protest. The CJI asked lawyers to inform them in case they have any issues with travel dislocation. “We will adjust,” CJI Chandrachud said.

This came after the Supreme Court Bar Association of India (SCBA) wrote to the apex court seeking no adverse orders be passed.

DELHI POLICE’S TRAFFIC ADVISORY

• Interstate buses intending to go towards Sonipat, Panipat Karnal etc., via NH-44 have been instructed to take ISBT to Majnu Ka Tilla to Signature Bridge to Khajuri Chowk to Loni Border to KMP via Khekra.
• Heavy Good Vehicles (HGVs) intending to go towards Sonipat, Panipat Karnal etc., via NH-44 are suggested to take exit number-2 on NH-44 (DSIIDC) intersection to Harish Chander Hospital crossing to Bawana road crossing to Bawana Chowk to Bawana-Auchandi Road reaching Auchandi Border to KMP via Saidpur chowki.
• The cars and light goods vehicles intending to go towards Sonipat, Panipat Karnal etc. via NH-44 are suggested to take exit from exit 1 (NH-44) Alipur cut to Shani Mandir, to Palla Bakhtawarpur Road Y-Point to Dahisara Village Road two lane stretch to MCD toll Dahisara to Jatti Kalan road to Singhu Stadium to PS Kundali reaching NH-44 towards Sonipat in Haryana.
• Vehicles from the national capital heading to Ghaziabad through Ghazipur border have been instructed to take Pusta Road in front of Akshardhami temple or Patparganj Road/Mother Dairy Road or Chaudhary Charan Singh Marg ISBT Anand Vihar and exit from Maharajpur or Apsara border in UP’s Ghaziabad.
• Heavy and Commercial Vehicles or trucks going towards Bahadurgarh, Rohtak etc. via Rohtak Road have been advised to use Najafgarh Nangloi Road from Nangloi Chowk to enter Haryana via Najafgarh Jharoda Border.

(With IANS, PTI inputs)