GHAZIABAD: Traffic cops in the city will close all entry points of Delhi-Meerut Expressway (DME) within their jurisdiction from Monday morning, aiming to make a safe passage for kanwar pilgrims during the annual yatra. The curbs, police said, will stay till Mahashivratri on July 23.The closure, which follows missed deadlines of July 17 and 19, comes as authorities anticipate a surge in the movement of pilgrims ahead of Shivratri. While DME will be completely sealed off in Ghaziabad, NH-9 will remain operational for regular traffic. This means the highway, which is already congested with vehicles being driven on the wrong side and drivers throwing caution to the wind, will bear the brunt of additional traffic.Police said the decision to close the crucial expressway was prompted by coordination challenges with traffic cops in Meerut, who continued allowing commuters on their stretch despite earlier plans to restrict access. tnn
