Carriageway from Delhi to Ghaziabad reopened

Earlier, on March 2, one of the carriageways had been opened for six hours before being blocked again, as police officers said there was no official order for opening the route.

Vehicular movement from Delhi to Ghaziabad through Ghazipur-Ghaziabad (UP Gate) border was restored a little after Sunday midnight, as police opened one carriageway that had remained shut for the past 48 days, since violence broke out during the farmers’ tractor parade on Republic Day. The Ghazipur border as such continues to remain closed with farmers camping there for the past 110 days to protest against three contentious farm laws.

Vehicles ply on a carriageway of the NH-24 after it was reopened for the traffic, near Ghazipur border in Ghaziabad (PTI)

All the six carriageways of Delhi-Meerut Expressway, NH-9, and NH-24 were completely blocked with multilayered barricading and deployment of police personnel following the violence that erupted during the farmers’ tractor rally on January 26 (Republic Day). Movement of vehicles through the Ghazipur-Ghaziabad border has remained affected since November 25-26, when thousands of farmers —who arrived from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand — occupied the roads after they were stopped from entering Delhi.

As a result, the other five carriageways connecting Delhi and Ghaziabad are still closed.

In a message posted on social media at 1.45am on Monday, additional deputy commissioner of police (east) Vinit Kumar said, “In view of the prevailing law and order situation at the Ghazipur border and keeping in mind the public convenience, the carriageway of NH-24 going towards Ghaziabad from Delhi has been opened in due consultation with the police officials of Ghaziabad, UP.”

Earlier, on March 2, one of the carriageways had been opened for six hours before being blocked again, as police officers said there was no official order for opening the route.

Motorists, who used the stretch on Monday, responded warily to its opening. “We are not rejoicing as the police may close it again. No one really cares about us,” said Sanjeev Kumar, a resident of Kaushambi who works at a finance company in south Delhi.