Gujjar bandh may cripple city today

Before you leave for office, dial the traffic helpline number (23010101) to know if everything is fine on your route.

Before you leave for office on Thursday, dial the traffic helpline number (23010101) to know if everything is fine on your route. This advice from the police came on Wednesday ahead of the strike call of Gujjars that threatened to cripple road traffic in Delhi and the National Capital Region.

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Officials said they were taking security precautions as they anticipate violent protests in several areas, particularly in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida and Ghaziabad.

The Union Home Ministry has asked the governments of UP, Haryana and Delhi to take precautionary measures like intensive patrolling in vulnerable areas.

The strike call was given by Gujjar leaders in the NCR a couple of days ago, to express solidarity with their community members in Rajasthan who are on an agitation demanding Scheduled Tribe status.

With over 30 Gujjar-dominated villages in south Delhi and 35 in east Delhi, traffic on several arterial roads including MB Road, MG Road, Mathura Road, GT Road and Wazirabad are likely to be affected. “We have deployed heavy force in all areas that are expected to experience problem. The electronic display boards would guide the motorists to avoid traffic jams,” said S.N. Srivastava, JCP (traffic).