Police divert traffic to avoid inconvenience to commuters

Aman Sood

Rajpura, February 10

With traffic being diverted to various routes to ensure smooth traffic movement to and from Delhi, the Punjab Police are awaiting instructions on whether farmers will be allowed to use the Shambhu barrier stretch to enter Haryana via Ambala.

The Punjab Police today diverted traffic to various routes to ensure minimum inconvenience to commuters.

Earlier today, the Rajpura stretch of the highway saw many diversions towards Dera Bassi and also through Pehowa, since the Ambala authorities blocked inward traffic movement.

“We have made many diversions and have informed people through the media which routes to take and avoid. This is being done since morning to ensure that the commuters face least inconvenience,” said SP (City), Patiala, Mohammed Asrfaraz Alam. “Since the Haryana counterparts have placed boulders and raised over 12-foot concrete walls on the roads, there is no way traffic can pass through. These diversions will be in place till further orders,” said Alam.

Police sources said the police were still not clear whether the agitating farmers who were adamant to use this stretch of the highway to march to Delhi would be allowed or not as instructions would come in a day or two. “As for now, we are hopeful that the agitation will be put off. Otherwise, we will act as per the instructions from seniors,” said a police officer.

Patiala SSP Varun Sharma said that there were still two days to go for the proposed agitation and the priority was to ensure minimal harassment to commuters. “We have deployed ample force on the Shambhu barrier and the stretch near Rajpura. Senior police officials have been told to be on the spot and be vigilant. We will ensure smooth traffic movement,” he said.

Routes to be followed

• Shambu/Rajpura-Banur-Airport Road-Dera Bassi-Ambala-Delhi
• Shambu/Rajpura-Banur-Zirakpur-Panchkula-Nada Sahib-Barwala-Shehzadpur-Saha-Shahbad-Delhi
• Rajpura-Patiala-Pehowa-Kurukshetra-Delhi and Rajpura-Patiala-Pehowa-152D Expressway-Rohtak-Delhi

Ample force on the ground

We have deployed ample force on the Shambhu barrier and the stretch near Rajpura. Senior officials have been told to be on the spot and be vigilant. We will ensure smooth traffic movement. — Varun Sharma, Patiala SSP