Delhi closes its borders as Ggm eases curbs; no end to commuters’ woes

POLICE SAID CHECKING AT ALL THE 11 BORDER CROSSINGS OF THE STATE THAT CONNECT GURUGRAM WITH DELHI HAS BEEN RELAXED DURING THE DAY

GURUGRAM: A day after the Haryana government decided to lift restrictions on the movement of people and vehicular traffic between the state and the national Capital, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced sealing of the Delhi borders, evoking sharp reactions from the daily commuters and business owners in the Millennium City.

Movement between Delhi-gurugram has remained disrupted over the past two months as the Haryana government put in place curbs to check the rising number of coronavirus disease cases in the state. At one point, the administration had even restricted the entry of people/vehicles engaged in essential services, although it was removed later.

Muhammad Akil, commissioner of police, said on Monday that checking at all the 11 border crossings of the state that connect Gurugram with Delhi has been relaxed during the day. Intense checking is being carried out only during the rush hours.

“We have not received any fresh orders regarding any changes at the borders. Our teams are deployed and have been directed to check the vehicles without movement passes,” he said.

There was not much congestion at the Delhi-gurgaon Expressway on Monday unlike last week, when the border was sealed again for a day. However, movement was restricted to three lanes on either side.

The police personnel deployed at the border on Monday evening said that many commuters were stopping there to ask them about the situation at the Delhi border but they couldn’t help them with any information because of the lack of clarity.

Several commuters who could enter Gurugram without any checks on Monday from Delhi said the governments may have taken such decisions in the wake of rising Covid cases, but for them it is a question of livelihood. Many people travel between Gurugram and Delhi for work.

Thousands of industrial workers who are employed in Gurugram have now started travelling through the forest pathways to their workplaces to evade border checks. The labourers enter from Kapashera area near the Rajokri forest and exit near the Sirhaul border after jumping a small canal.

Ram Dev, a worker of a spice factory in Udyog Vihar said, “Coming through the main road was wastage of time as cops used to ask for passes, which were not provided by our employers.”

The industry owners of Gurugram have also expressed surprise at the decision by the Delhi government.