Beating Retreat: Expect traffic restrictions around Rajpath on Monday

The suggestion to avoid central Delhi comes from Delhi Traffic Police’s apprehension that a large number of people could gather around India Gate on Sunday and Monday to spend the weekend as well as to see the illuminated Rashtrapati Bhavan.

People driving in central Delhi should expect traffic restrictions, detours and diversions due to the Beating Retreat ceremony at Vjiay Chowk on Monday, officials said. Motorists would do well to avoid many roads in the area over the next two days, police said.

The suggestion to avoid central Delhi comes from Delhi Traffic Police’s apprehension that a large number of people could gather around India Gate on Sunday and Monday to spend the weekend as well as to see the illuminated Rashtrapati Bhavan. (Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)

The suggestion to avoid central Delhi comes from Delhi Traffic Police’s apprehension that a large number of people could gather around India Gate on Sunday and Monday to spend the weekend as well as to see the illuminated Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Garima Bhatnagar, joint CP (traffic), said that the Vijay Chowk will remain closed for general traffic from 3.30pm to 9.30pm on Monday. She said that movement of vehicles on parts of Rafi Marg, Raisina Road, Krishna Menon Marg and Dara Shikoh Road too will be restricted during that period.

Since Monday is a working day, the traffic police have arranged for buses to avoid taking the C-Hexagon and some nearby roads from afternoon till evening. Earlier, Dependra Pathak, Delhi Traffic Police chief, had said that if the need arises, cabs and auto-rickshaws too would be required to take a diversion.

The gathering expected around India Gate too is expected to pose a problem, but the traffic police said they will not only divert buses, cabs and autos, they would also seek Google’s help to not suggest the C-Hexagon route for commuters on their maps from Friday to Monday.

According to the traffic police, routes to be avoided until Monday include Akbar Road, Ashoka Road, Tilak Marg, KG Marg, Prithvi Raj Road, Mathura Road, Shahjahan Road, Sher Shah Suri Marg, Bhairon Marg, Purana Qila Road and Subramania Bharti Marg.

On the New Year Day, a large gathering around India Gate had led to massive traffic snarls. Pathak said this time a large number of traffic and local policemen had been deployed around India Gate to assess the strength of the gathering. “We will be closely coordinating with the metro officials. As soon as we sense that the crowd is increasing, we may ask the metro authorities to not allow passengers to exit the train at stations near India Gate,” said Pathak.