NEW DELHI: The Delhi Traffic Police has issued a detailed traffic advisory ahead of the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort on August 15, with several roads to remain closed to general traffic and restrictions on buses and commercial vehicles.The restrictions will be in place primarily from 4am to 10am on August 15 for security and traffic management around the Red Fort. Only vehicles carrying valid parking labels will be permitted on several restricted stretches.Among the major roads that may be avoided during the restricted hours are Netaji Subhash Marg from Delhi Gate to Chatta Rail Chowk, Lothian Road between GPO Delhi and Chatta Rail Chowk, SP Mukherjee Marg between HC Sen Marg and Yamuna Bazar Chowk, Chandni Chowk Road from Fountain Chowk to Red Fort and Ring Road between Rajghat and ISBT.
The traffic police has suggested alternative routes for motorists travelling between north and south Delhi. One route is via Aurobindo Marg, Safdarjung Road, Kamal Ataturk Marg, Kautilya Marg, Sardar Patel Marg, 11 Murti, Mother Teresa Crescent, Park Street, Mandir Marg, Panchkuian Road and Rani Jhansi Road. Another route is through Connaught Place, Minto Road, Bhavbhuti Marg, Ajmeri Gate, Shradhanand Marg, Lahori Gate Chowk, Naya Bazar and SP Mukherjee Marg.Traffic restrictions will also affect city and interstate buses. Buses bound for Kauria Pul, Red Fort and Old Delhi Railway Station will be diverted through the ISBT Bridge and will terminate at Boulevard Road near the Mori Gate U-turn. Buses heading towards New Delhi, Connaught Place and Central Secretariat will use the ISBT Bridge, Boulevard Road, Rani Jhansi Flyover, Rani Jhansi Road and Mandir Marg.Buses travelling towards South Delhi from the ISBT side will follow the diverted route up to Mandir Marg before proceeding through Shankar Road, Upper Ridge Road, Simon Bolivar Marg and Dhaula Kuan.Several buses normally terminating at Old Delhi Railway Station, Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Kauria Pul will be curtailed or diverted. Buses coming from Roshanara Road towards Old Delhi Railway Station will terminate opposite the State Bank of India inside Tis Hazari Court, while buses from Old Rohtak Road towards Old Delhi Railway Station and Red Fort will terminate at Mori Gate.The advisory also states that all private and mini buses will terminate at the MCD car parking area at Mori Gate. Gokhale Road will operate one-way from Mori Gate towards Kashmiri Gate and the Gokhale Market ‘T’ Point.Restrictions on commercial transport and interstate buses will also be enforced. Goods vehicles will not be permitted between Nizamuddin Khatta and Wazirabad Bridge from midnight on August 14 until 11am on August 15. Interstate buses will not be allowed between Maharana Pratap ISBT and Sarai Kale Khan ISBT during the same period.Local city buses, including DTC buses, will also face restrictions on the Ring Road between ISBT Kashmiri Gate and the NH-24/NH-9 junction at Nizamuddin Khatta from midnight on August 14 until 11am on August 15. Several other roads, including Lothian Road, Netaji Subhash Marg, SP Mukherjee Marg, parts of Ring Road, Mathura Road and Vikas Marg, will also be closed to inter-city and DTC buses during this period.Normal bus services are expected to resume after 11am on August 15. The traffic police has advised commuters to leave early to avoid last-minute congestion and inconvenience.The advisory also lists restrictions for pedestrians and visitors attending the Independence Day ceremony. The public has been advised not to carry cameras, binoculars, remote-control car keys, umbrellas, handbags, briefcases, transistors, cigarette lighters, tiffin or lunch boxes and water bottles. People have also been asked not to touch suspicious objects and to immediately alert the nearest police officer about any suspicious movement or unidentified object.The flying of paragliders, paramotors, hang gliders, UAVs, microlight aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft, hot-air balloons, quadcopters and similar aerial platforms has also been prohibited over Delhi during the specified security period.For commuters travelling to important locations, the advisory provides separate routes to Old Delhi Railway Station, New Delhi Railway Station and ISBT Kashmere Gate from different parts of the city.The Delhi Traffic Police has also arranged DTC recovery vans from 5am on August 15 until the diversions are cleared at Gokhale Marg, Ghata Masjid, Yamuna Bazar, Delhi Gate and Chatta Rail Chowk.Commuters have been advised to plan their journeys in advance and use the suggested alternative routes during the Independence Day traffic restrictions.
