Delhi: UP Gate closed to keep out protesting farmers

NEW DELHI: Thousands of commuters were stuck for hours on the roads of east Delhi and Ghaziabad on Monday evening as the police restricted traffic movement on NH-24 and through the UP-Delhi borders, unable to stop the march of more than 30,000 farmers participating in Kisan Kranti Yatra. The farmers are travelling in around 2,000 tractor trolleys.
The entire east Delhi and the areas around it are likely to face major lockdowns on Tuesday due to the multi-layer security cover put up to stop the protesting farmers, led by Bharatiya Kisan Union, from entering the capital.On Monday night itself, major snarls were reported from Anand Vihar, NH-24, Mayur Vihar, Ghazipur and Noida Link Road. From Tuesday morning, the Uttar Pradesh police will fully close the UP Gate, as well as the Hindon elevated road from UP Gate to Raj Nagar Extension and the border at Anand Vihar.
Traffic was being diverted through Dilshad Garden, DND and Kalindi Kunj to ease the pressure on Monday. Officers said a similar arrangement had been made for Tuesday and prohibitory orders have been issued till October 8.
Sources said that according to intelligence reports, the crowd had been travelling with weapons to create a ruckus ahead of the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations on Tuesday. A large police team has been deployed along the border.
The traffic police has advised drivers to avoid Ghazipur Chowk, Road No. 56 going towards Anand Vihar ISBT, Apsara Border, GT Road, Mohan Nagar and Ghaziabad. Those going towards Ghaziabad have been asked to take the Kashmere Gate-Shahdara-Dilshad Garden-Mohan Nagar route.
“Travelling to or from Delhi through UP Gate or Anand Vihar will be barred on Tuesday,” Ghaziabad SP (traffic) Shyam Narayan Singh told TOI. “Those wanting to travel towards Delhi from Indirapuram can go to Noida and take any of the routes connecting Delhi. The Seemapuri border near Dilshad Garden and the Bhopura route through Hindon airbase roundabout are the other routes,” he added.
As two UP minister failed to pacify the protesters early in the day, CM Yogi Adityanath flew to Ghaziabad and met farmers leaders at the Hindon air base. But the farmers refused to call off their march to press for a range of demands, from fixing minimum support price to changes in the central crop insurance scheme.