YOGA DAY PREPARATIONS CHOKE TRAFFIC
Traffic across the city was thrown out of gear, first due to rain in the morning and later, in central Delhi, due to restrictions in Connaught Place.
NEWDELHI: Over 12,000 police personnel will be deployed across Delhi on June 21 as part of the security arrangements for International Yoga Day.
Tight security arrangements have been made at Nehru Park, Lal Quila, Lodhi Garden, Talkatora Garden, Dwarka, Rohini, Yamuna Sports Complex and Connaught Place.
The New Delhi Municipal Council too will organise the Delhi edition of the event at Connaught Place, its six radials and inner circles, roads along with three gardens — Lodhi Garden, Nehru Park, Talkatora Garden — and also at Children Park at India Gate.
More than 10,000 people are expected to gather at various venues to mark the day, adopted by the United Nations in 2014.
Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu, Delhi lieutenant governor Anil Baijal and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will attend the events.
Additional forces have also been deployed.
The emergency response vehicles and the RAF (rapid action force) will remain on standby to deal with any untoward situation.
“We have called in forces from outside. Based on the intelligence inputs, we have deployed special teams on strategic locations. All robust security arrangements to make the International Yoga Day a success are in place,” special commissioner of police, operations, Dependra Pathak, said.
As advised by Delhi Police, entry and exit points at the Rajiv Chowk Metro station will be closed from 5.30 am till 8.30 am.
Volunteers from organisations like Patanjali Yoga Peetha, Art of Living, Maa Shakti, Prajap- ita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vidyalaya, Gayatri Pariwar, Moraji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), personnel the Delhi Police, the NDMC, the CISF, the CRPF, the BSF, the ITBP, VVIPs and VIPs will perform yoga on the occasion.
The IGI airport will also organise various yoga sessions.
TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS IN CONNAUGHT PLACE
Restrictions on vehicular traffic and parking areas in Connaught Place’s Inner Circle have been ordered.
The Inner Circle, Middle Circle and the radial roads inside Outer Circle of Connaught Place were shut and barricaded on Tuesday afternoon with only pedestrians allowed to enter.
The area will remain closed for vehicular movement till 11.30 am on Wednesday.
The Delhi Traffic Police has advised motorists to keep away from Connaught Place and its adjoining routes until Wednesday afternoon in view of the Yoga Day activities.
Garima Bhatnagar, joint CP (Traffic), said that the entire inner and middle circles of CP as well as the radial roads within outer circle have been closed for vehicles from Monday evening to Wednesday morning.
But restrictions will be imposed even on the CP’s outer circle and the radial roads leading to this circle till from early Wednesday to at least 9 am.
“The restrictions on will be imposed depending on the situation. Motorists should try to avoid these routes mainly at the time of the dispersal of the crowd,” said Bhatnagar.
She said several green corridors to avoid discomfort for motorists have been made. Arrangements have also been made for access to the New Delhi railway station and for parking of vehicles for motorists visiting CP for Yoga Day activities.