Delhi traffic diversions are in force at 30 key points on October 10 as security arrangements intensify for a planned protest near Jantar Mantar, with commuters facing possible disruption to road, metro and rail travel across central Delhi.
The Delhi Traffic Police said the diversions began at 6 a.m. and would be enforced according to the prevailing law and order situation. The advisory covers routes around Connaught Place, Mandi House, Jantar Mantar, Patel Chowk and several other important intersections in Lutyens’ Delhi.
Among the affected locations are the Ashoka Road-Jantar Mantar Road roundabout, the Tolstoy Marg-Janpath crossing, the Jai Singh Road-Sansad Marg crossing, Rail Bhawan roundabout, Patel Chowk, Gol Dak Khana and Windsor Place. Traffic movement may also be affected around Mandi House, Chelmsford Road, Sansad Marg, Connaught Place’s outer circle, Barakhamba Road and the Minto Road-Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg junction.
The advisory also lists the Chelmsford Road-Connaught Place outer circle intersection, Bharion Road-Mahatma Gandhi Marg intersection, Lodhi Road flyover, Neela Gumbad roundabout, Madarsa T-point, Samrat Hotel roundabout, the Sardar Patel Marg-Panchsheel Marg crossing, the underpasses beneath the Bhikaji Cama Place and Moti Bagh flyovers, and the Ring Road-San Martin Marg intersection.
Traffic police have advised residents to avoid non-essential travel and asked people heading to railway stations, inter-State bus terminals or the airport through New Delhi and central Delhi to allow additional travel time. The restrictions are described as dynamic and may be relaxed or tightened after real-time assessments of conditions on the ground.
The traffic measures are part of wider security arrangements ahead of a planned demonstration by the Cockroach Janata Party and other groups seeking the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. Security was increased in the area ahead of the protest, according to the report.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has announced the closure of entry and exit gates at 45 metro stations from 9 p.m. on October 9 until the situation normalises on October 10. The report also said a 24-hour mobile internet suspension had been ordered in parts of central Delhi from 10 p.m. on October 9.
In addition, cancellations of trains bound for the capital from other States were reported ahead of the demonstration. The traffic police advisory did not specify a fixed end time for the road restrictions, stating that their continuation would depend on the law and order situation and further assessments by authorities.
