Gurgaon police: Balancing pilgrimage and speedy urban life

Head constable Rakesh Kumar, 45, on kanwar yatra duty says ensuring a hassle-free passage for Kanwarias -- devotees of Lord Shiva -- feels nothing less than serving

Head constable Rakesh Kumar, 45, on kanwar yatra duty says ensuring a hassle-free passage for Kanwarias -- devotees of Lord Shiva -- feels nothing less than serving God. He is in position at Signature Tower intersection around 8am, aware that he cannot be harsh on pilgrims as he may order other commuters to follow rules.

Kanwar yatra is an annual pilgrimage, one of the largest in north India. Kanwarias fetch Ganga water from Haridwar, Uttarakhand, and pass through Gurgaon en route to Shiva temples in their home towns in Haryana and neighbouring Rajasthan. (Abhinav Saha/HT Photo)

It’s just not about managing the traffic. Police have to strike a balance between the population of Gurgaon -- a hub of corporate firms -- and the Kanwarias, who may be unfamiliar with the intricacies of city life.

“Most of the Kanwarias are from rural areas and not so familiar with high-rises and fast moving traffic. Commuters are also not used to seeing long lines of saffron-clad men on roads. This makes the situation delicate and that’s why we have to be careful,” Kumar says.

Kanwar yatra is an annual pilgrimage, one of the largest in north India. Kanwarias fetch Ganga water from Haridwar, Uttarakhand, and pass through Gurgaon en route to Shiva temples in their home towns in Haryana and neighbouring Rajasthan. The pilgrimage will continue till August 1.

Police have deployed 1,000 personnel and 400 home guards on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway and internal roads. Besides, 38 personnel from the 3rd Battalion of Haryana Armed Forces, Hisar, are on duty in Gurgaon till August 1.

Police and administration have used jersey barriers at some places to demarcate a corridor for pilgrims on the expressway.

Police have to strike a balance between the population of Gurgaon -- a hub of corporate firms -- and the Kanwarias, who may be unfamiliar with the intricacies of city life. (Abhinav Saha/HT Photo)

Head constable Kumar is assisted by two Safron-clad police personnel so that pilgrims feel comfortable interacting with them. While Kumar directs vehicles to slow down, the officials in saffron request kanwarias to avoid taking the main road.

“It becomes easier to convince pilgrims to follow traffic directives when you are dressed like them. The idea is to ensure that they do not use service lanes or the expressway. Generally, Kanwarias are hostile with officials in khaki,” head constable Ravinder Singh, on duty at SEZ Silokhra, said.

(Parveen Kumar/HTPhoto )

At each turn along the 27-kilometre long expressway, officials are designated specific tasks. While some slow down motorists each time a batch of pilgrims passes by, others patrolling in police control room (PCR) vans and two-wheelers ensure that pilgrims take the demarcated corridor on service lanes.

“From regulating traffic to ensuring that the lanes for Kanwarias do not become parking lots, we have deployed officials on 24-hour duty,” Balbir Singh, deputy commissioner of police (traffic), said.

The Kanwarias acknowledged the support and hospitality extended by Gurgaon police as they walk towards their destinations.

“I have crossed three states on my way from Hardiwar. But the kind of cooperation that our group received in Gurgaon is the best,” 40-year-old Vimal Singh, a Rajasthan bound pilgrim, said.