New Delhi, Jul 30 (PTI) The Delhi Traffic Police has issued a traffic advisory as the Kanwar Yatra begins on July 30, announcing restrictions on heavy vehicles and closure of a key stretch of GT Road during the peak pilgrimage period.
The annual Kanwar Yatra will be observed until August 11 and during this time, lakhs of devotees carrying holy Ganga water from Gaumukh, Gangotri Dham and Haridwar are expected to pass through Delhi on their way to destinations in the national capital, Haryana and Rajasthan.
The Delhi Police has also stepped up security arrangements across the national capital to ensure the smooth and peaceful movement of Kanwariyas.
According to the Delhi Traffic Police’s Eastern Range advisory, the movement of Heavy Transport Vehicles
(HTVs), except city buses, will remain restricted or diverted from July 30 to August 12 on GT Road between Apsara Border and Yamuna Bridge, Wazirabad Road from Bhopura Border to Signature Bridge, Vikas Marg, Asha Ram Tyagi Marg (Road No. 66), Pusta Road and Loni Road.
The diverted heavy vehicles will be routed through designated alternate corridors, including NH-9 and NH-44, to reduce congestion and facilitate the uninterrupted movement of Kanwar pilgrims. The traffic police said GT Road from Apsara Border to Yamuna Bridge will remain closed for general traffic from 7 am on August 9 until 8 pm on August 12 to accommodate the peak movement of Kanwariyas.
The advisory said the movement of Kanwariyas and Kanwar vehicles will not be permitted on the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. “Commuters have been advised to plan their journeys, use alternate routes wherever possible, allow extra travel time while passing through affected stretches and follow directions issued by traffic personnel deployed on the ground,” the advisory read.
The traffic police also appealed to the public to stay updated through its official social media platforms for real-time advisories and cooperate with the arrangements to ensure the safe and peaceful conduct of the annual pilgrimage.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has intensified security arrangements across the city, deploying additional personnel along major Kanwar routes passing through north, northeast, east, central, outer north, outer, Rohini, Dwarka, west, southwest and south districts.
Senior police officers said they have implemented elaborate security and traffic management plans to ensure the safe passage of devotees entering Delhi from neighbouring states.
Officers said additional police personnel, Quick Response Teams (QRTs), PCR vans and pickets have been deployed at strategic locations. Assistance camps have also been established along the Kanwar routes to provide immediate help when required.
“There are seven major entry points in northeast Delhi through which Kanwariyas enter the city. These routes also connect to several other districts, making them critical from both the security and traffic management perspectives. Adequate deployment has been made at all these locations,” a senior police officer said.
The officer said the Delhi Police has also held coordination meetings with police authorities of neighbouring states to ensure seamless movement of devotees and a prompt response to any emergency.
“Our teams will not restrict themselves to jurisdictional issues. If assistance is required anywhere along the route, police personnel will respond immediately and coordinate with the concerned district,” the officer said.
Delhi Traffic Police senior officers on Wednesday inspected arrangements at Telco Point in Ghazipur and Chintamani Chowk in Shahdara district, where they reviewed traffic management measures and interacted with personnel. Fire stations across the capital have also been directed to remain on alert to tackle any emergency during the pilgrimage, police said. PTI BM ASD ASD
