Delhi traffic curbs will continue for a second consecutive day on Sunday as police prepare for possible protests in Central Delhi, with diversions expected at around 30 key points from 6 am depending on the prevailing law and order situation.
The advisory issued by the Delhi Traffic Police late Saturday said traffic movement could be affected around Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place, Mandi House, Patel Chowk and several other major intersections. Commuters travelling through New Delhi and Central Delhi have been asked to avoid non-essential journeys and allow additional time to reach railway stations, inter-state bus terminals and the airport.
The restrictions follow a fresh protest call by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), along with student organisations including the Students’ Federation of India (SFI). The groups are demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. According to the report, the organisations have announced that demonstrations will continue until their demands are met.
At a press conference at HKS Surjeet Bhawan on Saturday, CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde said marches to Jantar Mantar would be held daily until Kumar was removed from office. Shinde also alleged that protesters, including Abhijeet Dipke, had been subjected to inhumane treatment by the Delhi Police during detention. The allegation was made at the press conference and was not independently established in the supplied report.
SFI general secretary Srijan Bhattacharyya said students would hold peaceful demonstrations. He added that locations where protesters were stopped by police barricades would become their protest sites, according to the report. The planned activity has led traffic authorities to prepare for changing movement patterns around protest-sensitive areas in Central Delhi.
The affected stretches 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 and Gol Dak Khana. Several intersections around Connaught Place may also experience diversions or slow movement.
Traffic may additionally be affected at Mandi House, the Minto Road-Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg junction, the Lodhi Road flyover, Neela Gumbad roundabout, the Samrat Hotel roundabout and the Sardar Patel Marg-Panchsheel Marg crossing. The advisory also covers the underpasses beneath the Bhikaji Cama Place and Moti Bagh flyovers.
The Delhi Traffic Police said restrictions would be regulated or relaxed on the basis of real-time assessments of the situation. It urged commuters to follow updates through its official website and social media platforms as conditions develop through Sunday.
