23 days on, traffic restored at Lalru on Chandigarh-Ambala highway

Tribune News Service

Mohali, March 5

Twenty-three days after the Chandigarh-Ambala national highway was blocked by Haryana Police near the Jharmari barrier, Lalru, to stop the Samyukta Kisan Morcha members from marching to Delhi on February 12, normal traffic was restored on the stretch on Tuesday morning.

Haryana Police removed the barricades and uprooted the iron spikes embedded in concrete mix on the road. The road clearance work on the Haryana side of the border began with earthmovers and heavy machinery on Monday evening. The workers had a tough time removing the paraphernalia.

"It was only after vibrators, cutters and other machinery were pressed into service that the road was cleared on Tuesday morning," said a local.

Shambhu and Khanauri borders still remain sealed on the Haryana side, and traffic on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway has increased manifold leading to congestion at some places.

Dera Bassi ASP Vaibhav Chaudhary said the traffic on the stretch was restored in the morning.

For the time being, there is a restricted access at the spot with vehicles passing through a single lane on both sides and a few cops still staying put. The internet service remained patchy for a fortnight but it was restored completely.

Many districts in Haryana, including Ambala, had put restrictions on mobile internet and mass messaging service which impacted several villages in Lalru area. It remains to be seen how the Haryana government will deal with the farmer leaders in case they try to take this route on their march to Delhi.

About The Author

Tribune News Service

The Tribune News Service brings you the latest news, analysis and insights from the region, India and around the world. Follow the Tribune News Service for a wide-ranging coverage of events as they unfold, with perspective and clarity.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.

#Ambala #Mohali