New Delhi, 8 September 2022: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to inaugurate the new Central Vista Avenue in New Delhi. The stretch covers a 101-acre length of lawns on either side of Rajpath, now known as Kartavya Path, from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate.
Ahead of the opening, the Delhi Traffic Police has implemented certain traffic restrictions in the national capital. While the avenue will be made open for the public on September 8 from Vijay Chowk to India Gate.
Extensive preparations have been made by the Delhi Police to ensure pedestrian safety, especially that of children, and to guarantee traffic flow in the New Delhi district.
While from 6 PM to 9 PM tonight, the India Gate Circle, popularly known as the C-Hexagon, will be closed to all automotive and pedestrian traffic.
Roads including Tilak Marg, Purana Quila Road, and Shershah Road will see a diversion of traffic. From 6 pm to 9 pm, traffic will also be detoured from Dr Zakir Hussain Marg to the Subramanian Bharti Marg Crossing, from Pandara Road, Shahjahan Road, Akbar Road, and Ashoka Road.
Similarly, traffic movement will be diverted from K.G Marg and Copernicus Marg from 6 pm to 9 pm, the advisory added.
As per the traffic advisory, two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four-wheelers commuters are advised to plan their travel prior and avoid certain roads in New Delhi including W-Point, Mathura Road, Ashoka Road, Q-Point, Prithvi Raj Road, Akbar Road, Subramanian Bharti Marg, APJ Abdul Kalam Road, Rajesh Pilot Marg.
Additionally, roundabouts include Windsor Place, Claridge Hotel, Man Singh Road, MLNP, Janpath, Firoz Shah Road, Mandi House, and Sikandra Road since substantial traffic is anticipated at these locations.
Addressing the park and ride facility near the C-Hexagon area, the Delhi Transport Corporation, Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System and other public transport authorities are also ordered to schedule the movement of their vehicles in advance as well.
Additionally, the DTC has been asked to set up a “Park & Ride” facility. The four pick-up locations with parking are JLN Stadium, Rajghat, Connaught Place, and Bhairon Road.
“The park and ride service for the general public will be provided by the electric buses of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). Six of these buses have so far received approval. More buses will be available,” according to the police officials.
All central government offices in the New Delhi area will be closed after noon on September 8 and non-essential personnel in ministries and government departments have been requested to work from home, in addition to special traffic arrangements, the traffic police informed.
Security Arrangements
Prior to the inauguration of the newly renovated Central Vista area, about 1,500 police officers have been stationed there to provide security.
While 17 assistant commissioners of police (ACPs) along with the Delhi Police would be monitoring the regions with 43 inspectors and over 1,200 upper and lower rank workers. Two more CAPF (Central Armed Police Force) companies have been sent for security arrangements in the evening shift, in addition to the 10 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) that will be patrolling the region during the day shift.
On condition of anonymity, an officer stated, “Up to five patrolling teams in ten mobile patrolling vans (MPVs) will be maintaining a continual check on all the public activity in the region. In the area, there are 90 Multi Zone Door Frame Metal Detectors (DFMD) installed at 25 different places.”
While one counter-unmanned aerial vehicle and one anti-drone cannon have been installed to detect, track, and ultimately disrupt and destroy any suspected aerial intrusion.
Another five traffic decongestion teams have been dispatched there to immediately eliminate any traffic bottlenecks in the region, while five teams of spotters will maintain a strict monitor in the area. Almost five SWAT teams have been stationed in the region in case of emergency situations, including eight vehicle inspection teams, four ambulances, and two fire tenders.
