Crowd surge chokes traffic
As thousands of Baba Ramdev’s followers reached Ramlila Ground on Saturday, the traffic in the nearby areas was chaotic. The traffic on Aruna Asaf Ali Road and the road leading to the New Delhi Railway Station was blocked for a couple of hours.
“The traffic got blocked around 10 am today and it took atleast four hours to bring the situation back to normal,” said the traffic police.
“As a large number of followers from other states were expected to reach Delhi today in buses and other private vehicles, parking arrangements were made for them at Mata Sundari College ground, Ramlila Maidan, Rajghat power station, Shantivan, Bhairon Road and some other points,” officials said.
The Delhi traffic police has put in place elaborate traffic arrangements near Ramlila Ground.
“More than 500 personnel were regulating traffic in the area while senior officers were keeping a constant watch,” said the police.
Restrictions were imposed on the entry of private vehicles on the roads leading to Ramlila Ground and public transport buses were also diverted, police officers said.
“Nearly 500 personnel, including the assistant commissioners of police, have been deployed in the area to keep a constant vigil and regulate the vehicular movement,” said joint commissioner of police (traffic) Satyendra Garg.
He said that no vehicle will be allowed to park or halt on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Asaf Ali Marg and Vivekanand Marg. The vehicles found parked on these roads will be towed away. “We have deployed sufficient number of cranes. Two disaster management and recovery vans will be deployed round-the-clock in case of any eventuality,” said Mr Garg.
“The traffic diversions will continue till the protest lasts as we expect more rush at Ramlila Ground in the days to come,” added the police.
Meanwhile, the Delhi police is keeping a close watch on the law and order situation at the site as supporters have assembled to join the yoga guru in his fast against corruption.
“We will watch the situation until there is no law and order problem,” special commissioner of police Dharmendra Kumar said.
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