Delhi Police on Wednesday said that traffic movement was likely to be affected in parts of the national Capital on Thursday due to the anticipated protests over the questioning of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and an increase in the number of Kanwariyas passing through the city.
The ED has asked Sonia Gandhi to depose before it on July 21 for questioning in the National Herald newspaper-linked money-laundering case.
“In view of the ongoing Parliament session, adequate security and traffic arrangements have been made to deal with any "contagious situation" which may arise due to the protests over the Congress chief's questioning,” said a senior police officer.
“Some roads near the Congress office have already been barricaded by police in anticipation of the protests on Thursday,” said the sources in the Delhi Police.
Due to the nationwide Kanwar yatra that kicked off on July 14 and will conclude on July 26, Kanwariyas have been arriving in the city over the last few days, and their numbers are likely to increase from Thursday onwards, police said.
Due to this, 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, according to officials.
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, a statement issued by the Traffic Police said.
The Shiva devotees are expected to pass 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 expected to be affected, it said.
Kanwariyas' movement in smaller numbers is also observed at several locations across Delhi, police said.
A senior officer advised that motorists and road users should follow traffic rules and drive in dedicated road lanes.
Police said that in addition to the arrangements by the traffic police, security has been beefed up at kanwar camps and on important routes of the yatra while regular patrolling is being carried out.
Police officials said they are working closely with the kanwar samitis to ensure that the yatra concludes smoothly without any untoward incident.