Delhi Police begin removing barricades from Singhu border

A day after the eviction of protesting farmers and dismantling of their camps at the Shambhu border, Delhi Police began removing cemented barricades from the Singhu border on Thursday afternoon, aiming to fully reopen the main lanes of National Highway 44 (NH-44).

The Singhu border serves as a crucial entry point to the national capital, with thousands of vehicles passing through daily. Additionally, the industrial hubs of Kundli, Rai and Nathupur employ thousands of workers who have struggled with daily commute disruptions due to the sealed lanes.

The Delhi Police had sealed the Singhu border with multiple layers of barricades, including concrete blocks, containers filled with soil, cemented walls and barbed wires on February 13 last year. The action was taken in response to the farmers' protest at the Shambhu border. While the farmers continued their agitation at Shambhu, traffic congestion at Singhu worsened, causing severe delays and increased pollution levels.

Following periodic reviews, police had reopened a single lane on both sides of NH-44, along with service lanes, in March last year. However, major traffic jams persisted as most vehicles were forced to take the flyover.

Multiple appeals had been made by industrial associations and local traders’ groups, including the Kundli Industrial Association (KIA) and Zila Vyapar Mandal, urging authorities to fully reopen the border.

Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar had also written to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Outer North, Delhi, in November last year, advocating for the reopening of the main carriageway.

Welcoming the move, Subhash Gupta, Director of the Kundli Industrial Association (KIA), said, "The Delhi Police have started opening Singhu border today, which is a big relief to commuters as well as industries in the Kundli area."

Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Yadav also confirmed the process, stating: "The removal of barricades from the lanes on Singhu border has begun. It will provide major relief to thousands of commuters on NH-44. Once fully removed, traffic will flow smoothly, reducing congestion and air pollution."