Kanwar yatra curbs: Two lanes shut in Kalindi Kunj, no cars on Delhi-Meerut Expressway from today; brace for traffic impact

NOIDA: Traffic is set to take a hit on key arterial roads of Noida and Ghaziabad from Saturday as restrictions and diversions come into effect because of the kanwar yatra. These curbs will be in force till the evening of Aug 5.

In Noida, two lanes exiting Delhi at the Kalindi Kunj border have been closed for traffic on a stretch between the Okhla barrage and the bird sanctuary to facilitate the movement of pilgrims. In Ghaziabad, private cars and other light goods vehicles to Meerut will be diverted from the Delhi-Meerut Expressway (DME) through NH-9 and Hapur. Heavy vehicles are already not being allowed on the DME from July 22.

The Okhla restrictions will have a ripple effect on traffic on the other two lanes leading to Delhi, raising the possibility of long snarls during rush hours.

The 4km stretch – which connects Mayur Vihar and Kalindi Kunj – passes through a Shani temple, where pilgrims headed for Delhi and Faridabad stop on their way back from Haridwar.

On Friday, police had placed barricades to stop the movement of vehicles on the Delhi-Noida lanes.

Pramod Tyagi, the vice-president of the Shani Mandir Sewa Samiti, said they had made arrangements for food, shelter and medicines for pilgrims at the temple, where they make a stopover, particularly at night.

“There is an ambulance on standby and a team of doctors too. Mattresses and bedsheets will also be provided to pilgrims who would stop here for rest. There are plug points to charge mobile phones as well. Pilgrims usually reach the Shanti temple at night and leave the next morning. As of now, we have a batch of 10-12 pilgrims here. More will come tonight,” he told TOI.

Gaurav Kumar of Palwal in Haryana was among the pilgrims resting at the temple. “I left home on July 10 for Haridwar. From there, I headed back on July 13 and have been walking since carrying holy water. I have rested at different places on the way, and there has been no problem whatsoever. People have welcomed us with food and shelter. I only have one wish – that my family stays happy,” he said.

But it’s the commuters who are bearing the brunt of traffic curbs on the crucial stretch, which, anyway, sees snarls during rush hours because of the sheer number of vehicles using it.

Sanjeev Kumar of Noida Sector 51, who uses the stretch every day to head to work in Delhi, is worried about the time it would take to commute.

“This route is known for traffic jams during office hours. Now that two lanes have been blocked, the volume of traffic will shift to the other carriageways. I don’t know how early I need to leave home now. Traffic cops should be deployed at regular intervals to guide the vehicles. Else, it will just choke the stretch,” he said.

Traffic cops in Ghaziabad have announced a three-phase diversion plan to allow the smooth movement of pilgrims. While heavy vehicles have been barred on DME from July 22, cars and light goods will be diverted from the speedway from Saturday. From Monday, the entire expressway will be blocked only for pilgrims.

Additional DCP (traffic) Piyush Singh said the movement of all vehicles on Gangnahar Patri Kanwar Road and Pipeline Road, the two stretches used by pilgrims every year to reach Haridwar, will be completely restricted.

Vehicles travelling from Mohan Nagar, Meerut trisection, Raj Nagar Extension and Hapur Chungi towards Meerut through NH-34 will move through a single lane till July 29. Thereafter, vehicular movement on the route will be restricted till Aug 5.

Apart from traffic curbs, police will also allow kanwar camps off certain roads.

A senior police officer said that till Friday, permission had been given for 264 camps. Some 30 more applications are being reviewed by police.

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