Delhi traffic is set to face restrictions and diversions on October 31 and November 1 as a Run for Unity and a proposed Congress rally are scheduled in central parts of the capital, with the traffic police issuing route advisories for commuters, railway passengers, hospital visitors and event attendees.
The Run for Unity will be held on Saturday in the New Delhi area from around 3.30 am to 9 am. The event will begin at Gate 1 of Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, proceed towards C-Hexagon, turn right on the radial road opposite Shahjahan Road and end at the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Traffic moving towards C-Hexagon will be regulated or diverted depending on the situation. The traffic police has identified several points where movement may be affected, including the Bhagwan Das Road crossing, Purana Qila Road-Mathura Road crossing, Sher Shah Road, Dr Zakir Hussain Marg-Subramania Bharati Marg crossing, Pandara Road, Man Singh Road roundabout, Jaswant Singh Road roundabout, Feroz Shah Road, the K G Marg crossing, and the Mandi House and Copernicus Marg roundabouts.
The traffic police has advised people to avoid unnecessary travel towards Astha Kunj Park, Nehru Place and surrounding roads during the programme. Commuters have also been asked to use alternative routes wherever possible. Traffic will be managed according to ground conditions, while emergency vehicles will be provided uninterrupted passage. Action will be taken against roadside and unauthorised parking near the event venue.
A separate traffic plan has been prepared for the Congress Mah rally proposed at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday. The advisory says traffic movement will be affected on multiple routes, with diversions for heavy and commercial vehicles to be introduced as required. The police has also prepared arrangements for people travelling to New Delhi Railway Station and for patients and visitors heading to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital and Maulana Azad Medical College.
For the rally, three assistant commissioners of police, 10 inspector-rank officers, 300 traffic police personnel and around 100 home guards will be deployed, in addition to regular staff. A senior traffic police officer said approximately 150 additional traffic personnel would be posted at key intersections. The arrangements include a separate plan to facilitate ambulance movement.
Passengers travelling to New Delhi Railway Station from eastern Delhi have been advised to use the ITO-D D U Marg-Bh Bhavbhuti Marg route. Travellers from north and west Delhi have been advised to use Deshbandhu Gupta Road, Chelmsford Road and Minto Road to reach the station.
People attending the rally have been asked to use public transport. Those arriving by private vehicle have been advised to park only at designated parking locations. The traffic police has said route management and diversions will be adjusted according to the volume of pedestrians, vehicles and event-related movement on both days.
