Delhi Traffic Police has warned of diversions and restrictions across 30 important locations on Sunday as the Cockroach Janta Party plans another march towards Jantar Mantar, with possible disruptions around central Delhi, Connaught Place and major routes leading to transport hubs.
According to an advisory issued late on Saturday, traffic diversions may be introduced from 6 am, depending on conditions on the ground. The police said restrictions would be adjusted in real time during the protest and could be increased or reduced according to the situation.
The areas likely to be affected include Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place, Mandi House, Patel Chowk and several other central Delhi junctions. The listed locations include 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 junctions around Connaught Place.
The advisory also covers Mandi House, the Minto Road-Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg junction, the Lodhi Road flyover, Neela Gumbad roundabout, Samrat Hotel roundabout, the Sardar Patel Marg-Panchsheel Marg crossing, and underpasses below the Bhikaji Cama Place and Moti Bagh flyovers. The extent of the restrictions will depend on the movement of protesters and traffic conditions during the day.
The traffic police have advised people to avoid travelling unless necessary. Commuters heading to railway stations, inter-state bus terminals and the airport through New Delhi and central Delhi have been asked to leave with additional time. The warning is particularly relevant for passengers whose routes pass through the protest-affected areas, where diversions or slow-moving traffic could extend journey times.
The advisory follows an announcement by the Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, that it would march towards Jantar Mantar again. At a press conference held on Saturday, CJP representative Ajinkya Shinde said the organisation would continue marching to Jantar Mantar until Gyanesh Kumar was removed from the post of Chief Election Commissioner. The report also said the Students’ Federation of India and other major student organisations had announced that their protests would continue until their demands were met.
Shinde further alleged that Delhi Police had treated CJP convener Abhijit Dipke and other protesters in an inhumane manner during detention. The allegation was included in the CJP’s statement; the supplied report does not provide a separate response from Delhi Police on it.
Delhi Traffic Police has asked commuters to follow real-time updates on its social media platforms before beginning their journeys. The final diversions and restrictions will be determined according to conditions during the protest.
