Security stepped up, traffic restricted in Delhi for Independence Day

The Delhi Traffic Police on Tuesday said movement at Delhi’s borders have been restricted owing to security reasons. An annual exercise, these special checks are being conducted to avoid any untoward incident.

On the eve of the country’s 72nd Independence Day, the Delhi Police have stepped up security at the borders. Checkpoints have been set up at various intersections and ‘suspicious looking’ vehicles are being stopped and owners frisked.

A woman sells the national flag on the eve of Independence Day . (Virendra Singh Gosain/HT Photo)

The Delhi Traffic Police on Tuesday said the movement at Delhi’s borders have been restricted owing to security reasons. An annual exercise, these special checks are being conducted to avoid any untoward incident.

The borders were sealed and the police started diverting heavy vehicles from 11pm on Sunday. These vehicles are to take alternative routes, bypassing Delhi, to reach their destinations. Most vehicles were being re-routed and directed to turn back from below the Rajokri flyover or the Shankar Chowk flyover.

“Security is our priority. Traffic restrictions will be stricter on Tuesday and Wednesday,” a senior traffic officer said.

On the city roads, too, security checks have been put in place. Arterial roads and popular markets have police pickets for the last one week. The police said since Sunday evening, 34 cars with tinted windows have been prosecuted. These films have been removed and drivers fined.

“The Supreme Court has banned the use of tinted films on windscreens and side windows of vehicles. Such tinted windows are a major security concern,” the officer said.

Traffic restrictions along arterial roads in central and Old Delhi are also in place. On Wednesday, from 5am to 9am, the following stretches will remain closed to general traffic — Netaji Subhash Marg from Delhi Gate to Chatta Rail, Lothian Road from GPO Delhi to Chatta Rail, SP Mukherjee Marg from HC Sen Marg to Yamuna Bazar Chowk, Chandni Chowk Road from Fountain Chowk to Red Fort, Nishad Raj Marg from Ring Road to Netaji Subhash Marg, and Esplanade Road and its Link Road to Netaji Subhash Marg .