New Delhi: The national capital came to a virtual halt Thursday morning, with commuters travelling from Gurgaon and Noida towards Delhi stranded for hours, following restrictions in traffic movement and checking of all vehicles by the police at the borders.
The traffic restrictions are in place keeping in view two protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act scheduled for Thursday.
While one of the protests was to be held from the Red Fort to Shaheedi Park in ITO by a group of students, the second one — led by Left parties — was planned from Mandi House to Parliament Street.
A massive congestion was reported at the Delhi-Gurugram border on National Highway-8, due to barricading. Many commuters were asked to return to Gurugram by the police personnel on duty.
Other affected areas include Kalindi Kunj, Meethapur, Jaitpur, Ashram, Vasant Kunj, Dwarka Link Road to Terminal 3, Mathura Road, Okhla, Vikas Marg, Sarita Vihar, Kapashera.
Traffic towards Noida from the Kalindi Kunj was diverted via DND or the Noida Link Road, which led to spiraling jams towards Akshardham and Outer Ring Road.
Police sources said permission for both protests were denied citing law and order issues, especially after the clashes at the Jamia Millia Islamia and in Seelampur areas. The restrictions, they added, were imposed as a “precautionary measure” after protesting groups refused to follow the orders.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police’s Twitter account was flooded with complaints, with many users posting selfies of being stuck in snarls.
Also read: Liberal, secular opposition to CAA must not allow room for Islamic and Left radicals
Metros shut
At least 14 metro stations were shut as a large number of protestors came out on the streets despite the imposition of Section 144, which prohibits a gathering of more than four people in an area.
Entry and exit gates of Jamia Milia Islamia, Jasola Vihar, Shaheen Bagh, Lal Quila, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Vishwavidyalaya, Patel Chowk, Lok Kalyan Marg, Udyog Bhawan, ITO, Pragati Maidan, Khan Market, Central Secretariat metro stations were shut.
“We are constantly updating our Twitter page with information. Also, we are making announcements inside the trains. The trains will not stop at some selected stations, however, the interchange facility is available,” said a DMRC official.
Over 5,000 police personnel on ground
More than 2,000 local police personnel and 3,000 traffic policemen have been stationed from across units on law and order and traffic management duty.
Speaking to ThePrint, a senior traffic police officer said the snarls were caused due to barricading and the “checking drives” conducted by local policemen.
“The checking drives are being conducted by local police. They are stopping vehicles for checking, which is slowing down traffic. We did plan a few diversions but have not closed any road apart from Road Number 13A between Mathura Road and Kalindi Kunj,” a senior traffic police officer said.
“We are also advising people coming from Noida to take the DND or Akshardham road to reach Delhi. Though the traffic there is heavy, it is moving. The Okhla underpass has been closed,” the officer added.
Many commuters have also missed their flights, as the road towards Terminal 3 was choc-o-block with vehicles. “We have deployed the entire force on the ground to manage traffic and the situation is expected to get better once the peak hour is over,” the officer further said.
Also read: Man sets himself on fire at India Gate, police say unrelated to citizenship protests
I would not be surprised if today’s events in Delhi give AAP a sweep in the Assembly election.
Just a stray thought. What if the apex court had granted a stay, while admitting the writs against CAC ? Prima facie, a case has been made out at threshold stage that the law is in conflict with foundational principles of the Constitution. Till the matter was heard calmly, a few weeks from now, the edge would have been taken off the protests. It is not as if there is an army of refugees whose applications for citizenship need to be processed overnight.
Delhi can not be turned into Kashmir or NE. Delhi can not be locked down for long. We Delhiites have the special responsibilty to carry on the protests in support of the constitution and of our brothers and sisters else where. The WORLD is watching.
Kyon Bhai ? Granted those of us who live in Delhi and Bombay feel special, but the people of Kashmir and the north east are not the children of a lesser god. It is sad that nothing of note has emerged from the apex court on developments in the Valley since 5th August.
I totally agree – I simply wanted to point out that it is harder to shut down the capital. successive governments have gotten away with atrocities at the edges, we cannot deny that even the congress did stuff in the NE and Kashmir (less than BJP though) that they could not have done in Delhi under the glare of publicity. BJP will not dare repeat Kashmir in Delhi – if they try, that will be their political “samsan/kabristhan” right away. I just want to say that we, Delhi/Bombay-ites must recognize that responsibility and take up the challenge.
If they dont let us march, let us chant the preamble of the constitution in jail, in traffic shut down, even in our homes – sing it out of our windows and down our cell phones. let Modi and Shah hear the words – literally fill the air of Delhi with “we the people of India” …
Bravo!