The Delhi Police has issued a traffic advisory for commuters as farmers are set to resume their march to the national capital as no breakthrough was achieved after four rounds of talks over a legal guarantee on minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
In a tweet, the Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory for commuters, asking them to avoid certain busy stretches in central Delhi and take alternate routes owing to restrictions in view of the farmers’ protest.
“On February 21, due to special traffic arrangements, kindly avoid IP Marg in both the carriageways from IP Flyover towards A-point and vice-versa, ITO Chowk, DDU Marg, BSZ Marg, JLN Marg, Shanti Van crossing and Rajghat crossing from 9:30 am to 11:30 am,” the Delhi Traffic Police said in a tweet on Tuesday.
Traffic movement is expected to be hit as the police have installed barricades and iron nails at Delhi’s three border points — Tikri, Ghazipur and Singhu — in a bid to prevent the farmers from entering the national capital.
TRAFFIC ADVISORY FOR GREATER NOIDA
On the other hand, commuters in Greater Noida may have to face traffic diversions on Wednesday in view of a protest march called by the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Tikait), police said.
Farmers have planned to converge at the Knowledge Park metro station on tractors and private vehicles. Thereafter, they will take out a march that will pass the India Expo Mart, Sharda University, LG roundabout and Moser Bear roundabout to culminate at the Collectorate in Surajpur, according to police.
In view of the situation and in order to ensure smooth traffic movement, diversions, if required, may be placed from Galgotia Cut, Pari Chowk, LG Roundabout, Moser Bear Roundabout, Durga Talkies Roundabout and Surajpur Chowk, police said.
“Emergency vehicles will be allowed to pass safely during traffic diversions. Please use alternative routes to avoid inconvenience and in case of traffic inconvenience, you can contact the traffic helpline number 9971009001,” police said in an advisory.
Hundreds of farmers began their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on February 13 but were stopped by the police at the Punjab-Haryana border, following which clashes took place. Police also fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters.
Since then, the farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri points of the Punjab-Haryana border and held four rounds of talks with the government, but no significant breakthrough was achieved.
In the last round of talks held on Monday, the Centre proposed to the farmers that they can buy pulses, maize and cotton crops through government agencies at MSP for five years.
However, the farmers rejected the plan, saying it was not in “farmers’ interest” and said they would continue with the agitation on Wednesday at 11 am.
(with inputs from PTI)