Bharat Bandh: Farmers block Delhi-Meerut Expressway; 4,000 traffic police personnel deployed to control traffic

Protesting farmers completely blocked Delhi-Meerut expressway at Ghazipur-Ghaziabad (UP Gate) border that connects Delhi and Ghaziabad amid their call for Bharat Bandh on December 8.  Until the previous night, only one carriageway of the highway was blocked along with the service road of NH-24 at the UP gate border that is closed for the past ten days. 

The highway, that was forced shut by the protesting farmers around 10:00 am on December 8, saw traffic snarls, prompting the Delhi Police to ensure additional deployment of security personnel as well as the traffic police. The farmers, however, has kept a passage open for emergency service vehicles. 

A video also surfaced of farmer groups at Ghazipur border making way for a hearse van and its accompanying vehicles. 

Apart from the Delhi-Meerut expressway, seven other borders that have remained completely closed due to the farmers’ protest which are Singhu, Tikri, Auchandi, Jharoda, Piao Maniyari, and Mangesh in outer and south-western parts of the Delhi and Chilla border, connecting Delhi and Noida, in the East Delhi. 

As many as 4,000 traffic police personnel have been deployed strategically to ensure smooth traffic. The additional force has also been stationed at the marketplaces and in the residential areas to maintain the law and order in the nation. 

Delhi Police spokesperson Eish Singhal said they have sufficient force on the ground to ensure the traffic remains smooth in the capital.  

“The situation is being closely watched at the border areas. Diversions have been made wherever required to ensure minimum inconvenience to the general public," Singhal said. Police have also arranged for drones to monitor traffic and the borders of Delhi.