- Delhi Police issued traffic advisory for western range roads.
- Uttar Pradesh implements phased diversions and road closures.
- Extensive security, medical facilities, and personnel deployed.
As the annual Kanwar Yatra begins on Thursday, traffic movement across Delhi and Uttar Pradesh will remain affected for a month. The yatra, which takes place annually across India during the Shravan month, draws crores of devotees in Haridwar alone.
This year, over 4 crore devotees are expected to visit the sacred city in Uttarakhand. The Kanwa Yatris first visit Haridwar to fill the water from the River Ganga into their pots and walk to Lord Shiva temples to make an offering.
These devotees travel hundreds of kilometres every year from different states to Haridwar. The route to Haridwar passes through Delhi or the state border regions of Uttar Pradesh, prompting strict traffic measures in place every year.
This year too, security has been tightened across Delhi, and the police personnel have been deployed at key locations.
Delhi traffic advisory
Delhi Police issued a traffic advisory on Thursday, saying that vehicular movement is likely to remain affected on several roads in Delhi's western range. The advisory will remain in effect till August 11, the end of Kanwar Yatra.
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The advisory listed affected roads as Rohtak Road, Pankha Road, Najafgarh Firni Road, Dev Prakash Shastri Marg, Nangloi-Najafgarh Road and the Outer Ring Road.
While speaking to Jagran.com, Special Commissioner Manish Aggarwal said that 308 personnel have been deployed across the capital along with 306 traffic regulation points, set up to ensure the safety of pilgrims and maintain smooth traffic during the Yatra.
While en route to their destinations, a large number of Kanwariyas will enter Delhi from Ghazipur, Bhopura, Maharajpur, Apsara, Loni, Sonia Vihar, and the DLF border.
The Delhi Police have designated separate routes for them to proceed toward Haryana, Rajasthan, and other states. Those travelling to New Delhi Railway Station should take the Paharganj side road instead of the Ajmeri Gate road.
Restrictions in UP
In UP, the police have announced phased traffic restrictions across the western region. These restrictions will affect commute to Delhi, Haridwar, Dehradun and Saharanpur. The travel time may increase.
Ghaziabad: The Commissionerate police have announced a phased diversion plan, coming into effect from July 29 and to continue till August 12.
Since Wednesday morning, entry of heavy vehicles from the Delhi side has been banned. The heavy vehicles are being diverted through the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, the Ganga Expressway and the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, officials told news agency ANI.
Muzaffarnagar: SSP Sanjay Kumar said that heavy vehicles on key routes will be banned. From August 4, the Delhi-Haridwar National Highway and the Ganga canal road will be closed for all traffic.
Under the police diversion plan, vehicles heading to Delhi from Haridwar and Saharanpur will be routed through Deoband, Pachenda, Mirapur and Mawana in Meerut. Vehicles returning from Delhi will follow the same route.
Additionally, vehicles can use the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor for travelling from Delhi to Haridwar and Dehradun.
Bareilly: The administration has divided the district into three super zones, nine zones, 28 sectors and 104 sub-sectors for security management. Over 3,900 police personnel have been deployed.
Besides, the authorities have also set to medical facilities, CCTV surveillance and relief teams along the ghats. On the Kanwar routes, liquor shops and non-vegetarian food stalls have been cleared.