Meerut: Police Shut Non-Veg Eateries Near Khadauli Mosque To Ease Highway Traffic; Traders Protest

Police have ordered the closure of non-vegetarian restaurants and roadside eateries near the Khadauli mosque on the Delhi-Dehradun Highway in an effort to prevent traffic congestion caused by vehicles parked outside these establishments. The move aims to keep the stretch from the Siwaya toll plaza to Partapur completely traffic-free on Sundays.

However, the police action has triggered strong protests from local traders, who claim that no clear explanation was provided by the Khadauli outpost in charge. They plan to file a complaint with senior officials on Monday.

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During the widening of the highway eight years ago, the Khadauli mosque was shifted further back, and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) constructed a road on the vacated space to prevent jams. In recent years, biryani stalls and lines of parked vehicles have occupied this area, leading to severe congestion, especially on Sundays.

On Saturday, CO Prakash Chandra Agarwal instructed several restaurant and dhaba operators, Javed, Farman, Irfan, Sameer, Ikhlaq Ansari and others, to keep their establishments closed on Sunday. Local police were directed to ensure all eateries in the area remained shut and that no temporary stalls were set up. The order was strictly enforced.

Meanwhile, Meerut Vyapar Mandal representative Shanky Verma alleged that Khadauli outpost in-charge Ashok misbehaved with him over the phone. A video circulating on social media also shows the sub-inspector allegedly threatening to bring in a JCB machine to demolish the market if shops remained open. Traders have announced that they will meet the SSP regarding the matter.

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CO Agarwal said the arrangement has been implemented solely to prevent Sunday traffic jams, noting that the Khadauli stretch sees the most congestion. With restaurants shut this Sunday, the highway from Siwaya toll to Partapur remained jam-free. The police plan to enforce this closure every Sunday.