3 events to make CP out of bounds

Central Delhi will come to a virtual halt for nearly three days, thanks to three road events during the Commonwealth Games. Three road events — marathon, cycling and long walk — to be held on October 9, 10 and 14 will severely impact traffic in and around Connaught Place. Vijaita Singh reports.

Central Delhi will come to a virtual halt for nearly three days, thanks to three road events during the Commonwealth Games.

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Three road events — marathon, cycling and long walk — to be held on October 9, 10 and 14 will severely impact traffic in and around Connaught Place. Vehicles will not be allowed near the market and there would be no parking arrangements either.

"Two of the events will start from Parliament Street and cover inner and outer circle of Connaught Place. No vehicles will be allowed from 10 am to 6 pm," said Satyendra Garg, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic).

The police said they planned the route after they were apprised about the event schedule by the Organising Committee (OC) last month.

"As it is a road event we could not have omitted these roads," Garg said.

"There would be no restriction on people coming to CP. The Delhi Metro will be open and we urge people to avail its services," Garg said.

One of the three days when these events have been planned is a Sunday and another one falls on a October 14 — the day for the closing ceremony that has been declared a public holiday by the Delhi government.

On October 9, a 20-km walk has been planned on the Rajpath, which means that traffic around India Gate will be affected majorly.

"We would be barricading the entire Rajpath and people intending to use the road will have to take other roundabouts," said the officer.

On Sunday, the Delhi Police conducted second round of trials on lanes reserved for Commonwealth Games on two stretches — NH-24 Nizamuddin Khatta T-Point up to Noida More and from IP College traffic signal and taking Ring Road to Chhatra Marg. Vehicular movement on the exclusive lane on these stretches was not allowed during the trial that started at 11 am.

Deliberate straying into lanes exclusively marked for the Games vehicles will attract a fine of Rs 2,000. A notification in this regard will be issued in a couple of days by the Lt Governor’s office.

(With inputs from PTI)