Tension on Eastern Bypass as farmers oppose resumption of construction
Tension flared at Sohana village along the Eastern Bypass after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) personnel, accompanied by policemen, arrived to resume construction work of the bypass. Farmers, who have been staging a dharna at the site for the past 10 days demanding the provision of entry and exit points on the bypass, strongly opposed the move. The ongoing protest is being held under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU).
Farmers objected to the resumption of construction without addressing their demands, leading to a heated exchange between protesters and officials on site.
Eventually, an agreement was reached to hold a meeting involving BKU leaders, district administration and NHAI officials to explore a possible resolution. However, farmer leaders affirmed that the protest would continue until their demands are met.
BKU state president Rattan Mann reiterated the farmers’ determination: “We will not call off the protest until the government meets our demand for an access point near Sohana. We are even ready for an indefinite strike.” The protesting farmers argue that the absence of a nearby access point would force local residents and commuters from Uttar Pradesh to travel additional kilometres unnecessarily. “This is not just a convenience issue, it affects daily life, fuel cost, emergency access and local livelihoods,” Mann added.
He said on May 12, a memorandum had been submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, along with a 48-hour ultimatum. However, with no concrete action taken by the administration, the dharna was launched and has been gaining momentum daily. According to officials, the demand is not feasible due to the presence of an existing access point near Meerut Road. This explanation has been rejected by farmers, who say it is impractical for local users.
