Geri route not a hot spot this Valentine’s Day

Amit Sharma

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 14

The circuit between Sector 8 to 11 popularly known as the ‘geri route’ among youngsters, didn’t witness the rush as expected on Valentine’s Day. The police checkpoints on the route further played spoilsport for lovers.

Crowd meanwhile was witnessed at malls in the Industrial Area, including Elante Mall Centra Mall, Sector 17 Plaza and the Student Centre at Panjab University.

This Valentine’s, the excitement on the gehri route was missing as compared to past years, when the roads used to get choked with youngsters flaunting their high-end vehicles.

The two parking lots opposite Arts College in Sector 10 that used to be cramped up with cars had lots of space for the visitors this time, endorsing the fact that the youngsters didn’t drive down the ‘geri route’.

Along side the road, vendors selling heart-shaped red balloons admitted that the crowd was less on the ‘geri route’ this year. “Earlier, we used to run a brisk business on Valentine’s Day as youngsters purchased the balloons in large numbers, but this time red balloons did not find favour with them”, said Rajesh who could earn only Rs 800 by the evening.

The scene in other sectors, including Sector 15 and 34 was no different. A police official on checkpont in Sector 10 said that there was no chaos this time on the road. 

Anticipating huge rush, the Chandigarh Police had made elaborate security arrangements with over 900 police personnel deployed across the city apart from area DSPs and Inspectors to ensure peace in the city. Meanwhile, rush was witnessed on the geri route during evening hours.