Delhi Police will deploy more than 5,000 personnel and the Delhi Traffic Police will enforce diversions across parts of the capital during Chhath celebrations on November 15 and 16, as large gatherings are expected at Yamuna ghats, ponds and other worship venues.
Security arrangements will be strengthened particularly in the East, Northeast and Shahdara districts, where police expect large numbers of devotees to assemble for the evening rituals on November 15 and the morning prayers on November 16. The deployment will cover major ghats, ponds, markets and roads leading to the celebration venues, according to a senior police officer.
All district deputy commissioners of police have held meetings with Chhath Puja organisers and local committee members to discuss security and crowd management. Police patrols will be conducted on foot, in PCR vehicles and on motorcycles across the city. Organisers have also been briefed to keep entry and exit points unobstructed at the venues.
The Delhi Traffic Police has advised commuters to avoid Pushta Road between Shastri Park and Khajuri Chowk in both directions, the route from Nanaksar T-Point to Sonia Vihar Toll Tax, and the stretch from Shanti Van to Shamshan Ghat, as far as possible during the two-day celebrations.
Commuters travelling towards North Delhi, Central Delhi, East Delhi and New Delhi have been advised to use the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway and GT Road. Motorists travelling from Nanaksar T-Point towards Sonia Vihar can take the route through Khajuri Chowk, RTC Pusta Road, Sabhapur village and Sonia Vihar Chauhan Patti. Local residents may also use Road No. 66.
Another diversion route will take motorists through the SDM Office U-turn towards the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, according to the traffic advisory. The restrictions are intended to manage vehicle movement around locations where pedestrian and vehicular traffic is expected to rise during the rituals.
The traffic police has identified 13 parking locations for devotees. These include Yamuna Khadar near DND, an open Delhi Development Authority ground, an open ground at West Vinod Nagar in IP Extension, the area beside Khajuri Metro Station and vacant Yamuna land beside the second, 3.5 and 4.5 Pushta areas for Sonia Vihar residents.
Other designated parking facilities include Nanaksar Gurudwara parking, vacant land at Yamuna Khadar, vacant land along the Yamuna riverbank, an open ground near the Gaushala at Old Iron Bridge and Chhath Park in the B1 and B2 blocks of Nand Nagri. Parking has also been arranged at Chhath Ghat in Mandoli Teela, the Pusta Road National Highways Authority of India parking area and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi parking facility near Sai Bhawan.
Police and traffic authorities have asked organisers and commuters to follow the designated routes and parking arrangements during the celebrations. The deployment and restrictions will remain focused on the evening prayers on November 15 and the morning rituals on November 16.
