Commuters have been alerted by Delhi Police that there might need to be traffic diversions at the borders of Tikri, Ghazipur, and Singhu. While the Delhi Police have enforced prohibitions restricting movement and public gatherings, Tuesday’s traffic chaos in the National Capital Region was expected to be caused by the increased safety measures put in place for a march of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to the capital. On Tuesday afternoon, the farmers intended to gather at the border crossings at Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur in the capital. Ahead of the march, trenches, concertina wires, shipping containers, and metal barricades have been positioned on Delhi’s periphery.
It was anticipated that the traffic bottlenecks would extend to major thoroughfares throughout the city, particularly to its northern, southern, eastern, and central regions. The Delhi Police cautioned commuters that, depending on the situation, traffic diversions may be necessary at the borders of Tikri, Ghazipur, and Singhu in an updated traffic advisory released on Monday night.
According to a previous advisory, commercial vehicles will be subject to traffic restrictions and detours at the borders of Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur starting on February 12 and all other vehicles on February 13. Additionally, drones were used on the outskirts of the city.
Multiple layers of blockades, including iron barricades, jersey barriers, shipping containers, barbed wire fencing, iron nails, hydra cranes, buses, and other vehicles, are erected at the borders to prevent the farmers who are protesting from reaching Delhi.
Police officers have been asked to step up police pickets, patrols, and vehicle checks after an alert was issued to all police stations in the city. On Monday, the police erected checkpoints in the heart of Delhi. At Mandi House, ITO, Minto Bridge, Mathura Road, Ring Road, Ranjit Singh flyover, and Minto Bridge, vehicles were inspected.
As negotiations between Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Arjun Munda and the leaders of the protesting farmer bodies in Punjab came to a standstill, preparations were made. The two parties’ first meeting, which took place on February 8, also ended in a deadlock.
Farmer leaders in Punjab and Haryana accused the government of attempting to buy time while they reinforced their borders with barbed wire, iron nails, and concrete blocks to stop the planned march.
In fifteen districts, the Haryana government enforced bans on gatherings of five or more individuals, as well as on using tractor-trolleys for demonstrations or marches.
On Monday, farmers connected to 200 organizations and unions disobeyed restrictions by setting off atop tractors and trucks on their way to Delhi. Authorities had to send out paramilitary and police forces to stop farmers from marching to Delhi after some protestors drove their cars into barricades.
