Major roads in parts of Central, East, Northeast Delhi and its bordering areas may face traffic snarls on Tuesday as kanwariyas head for their native places through the national Capital.
The traffic movement in Central Delhi is also likely to be affected due to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the National Herald case.
The Kanwar Yatra that kicked off on July 14, will conclude on July 26 and special arrangements have been made by the police in coordination with its traffic and civic bodies across the border and other areas of Delhi.In view of the ongoing Parliament session also, adequate security and traffic arrangements have been made to deal with any "contagious situation" which may arise.
In Shahdara district, adequate arrangements have been made ever since the Kanwar Yatra started and from Tuesday the kanwariyas would return to their native places, hence staff has been deployed along their routes, a senior police officer said. "Most of them (kanwariyas) in our district are expected to come through the Apsara border. Hence there is heavy deployment there and extra pickets have been placed. Plus, the temple areas where they might offer water are also being taken care of," he said.
Kanwariyas collect water from the Ganga River at Haridwar in Uttarakhand to offer at Shiva temples across the country. In northeast Delhi, there has been a rise in the number of kanwariyas since Monday as on Tuesday they would start offering water at Shiva temples in the areas while on their way home, another senior police officer said.
"We have strengthened security on the roads through which kanwariyas are passing. Extra forces have been deployed at GT Road and those coming through Wazirabad area. Each and every crossing on these roads is manned by police," he said.
The officer said that they have also approached the members of the Bhai Chara Committee, Aman Committee and other citizens and civic bodies and asked them to co-operate in order to ensure that no untoward incident takes place.
"We have increased patrolling and are also using drones to keep a check. All senior officer and others have been directed to be alert. The other major movement is expected from the Apsara border and the Bhopura border. Light movement is also expected from the Johripur Road," he said. Traffic is likely to be affected on some roads in east and outer Delhi, police said, adding that adequate arrangements have been made to avoid jams.
A total of 1,925 police personnel have been deployed for traffic regulation and more than 56 cranes and motorcycles are also present on the route which the kanwariyas will be taking.
Commuters or kanwar yatris needing any assistance can check the Delhi Traffic Police Facebook page or Twitter handle for updates or call on 8750871493 and helpline number 1095/011-25844444 for queries, it said.
The devotees are expected to return through Apsara Border, Shahdara flyover, Seelampur, ISBT flyover, Boulevard Road, Rani Jhansi Road, Faiz Road, Upper Ridge Road, Dhaula Kuan, National Highway 8 and exit from Rajokri Border for Haryana, the statement said.
Wazirabad Road, Wazirabad Bridge, Outer Ring Road, Mukarba Chowk, National Highway 1 and exit from Singhu Border or Madhuban Chowk, Peeragarhi and exit from Tikri Border for Haryana, Maharajpur Border, Road number 56, Ghazipur Border, Ring Road, Mathura Road and Badarpur Border exit are some of other points, it said.