New Delhi: Authorities said that following a protest called by farmers in Noida and Greater Noida, police erected barricades to check cars entering the national capital, causing severe traffic jams on the Delhi-Noida borders on Thursday.
As police officers with heavy machinery stood ready to handle any situation in the event that protesting farmers arrived at the Delhi-Noida link road near Mayur Vihar, drivers were stuck in crawling traffic for hours.
Authorities stated that water cannons, riot control vehicles, heavy duty bulldozers, and backhoe machines were arranged in a strategic manner at the border.
The DND, Chilla, and Ghazipur borders all saw heavy traffic, according to the Delhi Traffic Police.
In an effort to further their demands, a number of farming organizations in Noida and Greater Noida, who have been protesting since December 2023 and are calling for increased compensation and developed plots against their purchased land, issued a call on Thursday to march on Parliament. They were, however, halted in Noida close to the Mahamaya Flyover.
According to a senior Delhi Police officer, the link road close to Mayur Vihar will be totally blocked if necessary.
“As of now, the Uttar Pradesh Police is dealing with them (farmers) and hopefully they will not enter Delhi,” he said.
At Sarita Vihar in south Delhi, several vehicles going towards Noida through Kalindi Kunj were stuck in the jam, the officials said.
“I am going to Agra and cannot change route now because this is the only way which will take me to the Yamuna Expressway. The traffic is crawling,” said Raj Sharma, a commuter.
Heavy traffic jams were also reported on the Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) Flyway and the Delhi-Meerut expressway, the officials said.
The commuters took to X mentioning about the traffic situation near the bordering areas. They wrote that the traffic was heavy on the DND Flyway and Delhi-Meerut expressway.
The Delhi Traffic Police said that the traffic was affected from Kalindi Kunj towards Noida.
“Traffic is affected in the carriageway from Kalindi Kunj towards Noida due to demonstration near Mahamaya Flyover in Noida. Kindly plan your journey accordingly,” police wrote on X.
Meanwhile, security has been stepped up in the national capital, especially on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border, in view of the protests by farmers, officials added.
Around 150 farmers have been stopped near the Mahamaya flyover in Noida by the Uttar Pradesh Police, officials said.
Alternative traffic arrangements have been made and commuters were advised to avoid certain roads.
“Heavy security arrangements have been made in different border entry points in the national capital. No one will be allowed to breach law and order,” a senior police officer said.
Another police officer said that security forces have been deployed along with paramilitary forces to maintain law and order.
Pickets and barricades were installed on the border areas connecting Delhi-Haryana and Delhi-Uttar Pradesh, he added.
According to the Delhi Traffic Police, heavy traffic is also expected on the routes connected to Sonia Vihar, Sabhapur, Apsara and Loni borders.
Commuters have been asked to avoid or plan their journey accordingly.
Ahead of the protests in Noida and Greater Noida, the Gautam Buddh Nagar police imposed Section 144 on Wednesday and Thursday.
The Gautam Buddh Nagar police also issued a traffic advisory, cautioning commuters against diversions on some routes in the twin cities in view of the farmers’ movement on tractors.
Read More
Muddy Water Scandal: Bengaluru Resident’s Video Goes Viral
