Police lift traffic restrictions

Traffic restrictions in central Delhi, which had brought the Capital, especially Central Delhi, to a standstill for nearly three days, were finally lifted on Tuesday evening. HT reports.

Traffic restrictions in central Delhi, which had brought the Capital, especially Central Delhi, to a standstill for nearly three days, were finally lifted on Tuesday evening.

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The Delhi Police opened 15 roads in the area and finally allowed five important Metro stations to roll up their shutters.

"Five Metro stations — Pragati Maidan, Mandi House, Rajiv Chowk, Barakhamba Road and Khan Market — were opened around 5pm. The four remaining Metro stations — Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Udyog Bhawan, and Race Course — opened at 7pm. All these stations, barring Rajiv Chowk, had been shut for three days. Rajiv Chowk station had been shut for two days," a DMRC spokesperson said.

"The Delhi Police order of shutting down Metro stations has caused a loss over two lakh passengers in the past three days," a DMRC source said.

The closure was ordered in a bid to prevent people from protesting at India Gate, the prime minister's residence at Race Course and Rashtrapati Bhawan, an official said.

The protesters were demanding swift action in the recent gangrape of a 23-year-old woman on board a moving bus on December 16 night.

All roads leading to India Gate and Rastrapati Bhawan at Raisina Hills, which had remained closed since Sunday evening, also opened for general public on Tuesday evening.

These roads included National Stadium-Raisina Hills, Man Singh Road, Janpath, Rafi Marg, Vijay Chowk, ITO-Tilak Marg, Purana Quila Road, Sher Shah Road, Dr Zakir Hussain Marg, Pandara Road, Shahjahan Road, Akbar Road, Ashoka Road, KG Marg and Copernicus Marg.

Authorities said no road will be closed for traffic on Wednesday unless there was a deterioration in the law and order situation. All Metro stations will also function normally.

Traffic restrictions and closure of important Metro stations had made life tough for Delhiites, especially on Monday. The situation wasn't that bad on Sunday as well as on Tuesday as most offices were shut on account of Christmas.