Farmers’ Protest: Traffic dips on Chandigarh-Delhi national highway as road curbs continue

Gaurav Kanthwal

Mohali, February 13

Chandigarh-Delhi national highway continued to be blocked at Jharmari, near Lalru, today even though farmers’ march to Delhi had a limited impact here.

The stretch from Dera Bassi to Lalru witnessed a minimal movement of vehicles, while diversions and village roads were choked with traffic. The police barricading on the borders of Chandigarh, Mohali and Ambala caused congestion on internal roads.

Diversions for Punjab traffic

• Rajpura-Banur-Ambala via Lehli T-point in Lalru
• Ludhiana-Haryana traffic via Shambhu border being diverted to Banur
• Traffic from Landran-Mohali side being diverted to Zirakpur at Banur

At Jharmari, Lalru, near the Punjab-Haryana border, it remained peaceful throughout the day. Protesters, who were on around 35 tractor-trailers, gathered at the Lehli gurdwara in the morning and then moved on to Shambhu border.

Internet continues to remain down for the third day in Lalru villages in the vicinity of Ambala due to restrictions imposed in Haryana.

Meanwhile, industrialists of Dera Bassi and Lalru feared disruption in the supply chain due to the protest. Naresh Sharda, an industrialist of Dera Bassi, said, “The travel time for labour, goods and raw material transportation has increased considerably. If the protest stretches for a long time, then it will impact the local industry.”

chandigarh: Zirakpur-Chandigarh stretch, which witnesses daily traffic jams, witnessed a smooth traffic movement today as the traffic from Ambala was diverted towards the Panchkula route to Chandigarh.

The entry points to the city from Mohali also didn’t witness any chaos, which was anticipated due to the farmers’ protest march. Heavy police presence was witnessed at the border points in Chandigarh. Barricades have been put up to prevent tractor-trailers from entering the city.

A police official said no disturbance was reported at any of these locations and traffic passed through smoothly.

Police checks at the border points will continue on Wednesday. — TNS