Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The traffic police in Delhi-NCR have implemented several measures to ensure the safe passage of Kanwar Yatra pilgrims, resulting in changes to the usual traffic routes. Pilgrims returning from Haridwar pass through Meerut, Ghaziabad, Noida, Delhi, and Faridabad, causing increased traffic on these routes.
Traffic Restrictions in Delhi-NCR for Kanwar Yatra:
- The Noida traffic police have restricted two of the four lanes between Okhla Barrage and Okhla Bird Sanctuary from July 28 to August 4 to facilitate the safe passage of Kanwar Yatra pilgrims.
- Approximately four kilometers of the pilgrimage route, from Mayur Vihar through Shani temple and Okhla Bird Sanctuary to Kalindi Kunj, fall within Noida’s jurisdiction.
- Barriers were erected near Sector 126 police station at Kalindi Kunj, diverting traffic onto the two right lanes from the Delhi to Noida side, causing bottlenecks and congestion.
- Additional traffic police personnel have been deployed near Okhla Barrage to manage the flow and prevent congestion, particularly during peak hours when the route narrows.
- The Uttar Pradesh police have announced the closure of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway for heavy vehicles until 8 pm on August 5. Restrictions extend to all vehicles, including private cars, between Delhi and Meerut from July 29.
Delhi Minister Atishi announced that large camps have been established at Kashmiri Gate in Delhi to accommodate at least 2,000 Kanwariyas. The camps are equipped with waterproof tents, beds, and tables to protect against rain.
The camps also provide food and medical assistance, with a doctor and medical team on standby 24 hours a day, working in three shifts. An ambulance is stationed outside the camp to transport anyone with serious health issues to the nearest LNGP hospital.
The month of Sawan, significant for Hindus and dedicated to Lord Shiva, is a time of worship, fasting, and pilgrimages. Devotees carrying gangajal are visiting temples like Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain, Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi, Kali Paltan in Meerut, and Jharkhandi Mahadev in Gorakhpur to offer their prayers.