‘Ahir protest may disrupt traffic today’
GURUGRAM: The traffic movement along the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway on Sunday is likely to be disrupted for up to nine hours due to a proposed march by the Ahir community from Kherki Daula toll plaza to Iffco Chowk on National Highway 48 (NH-48), said an advisory issued by the traffic police on Saturday.
The members of the Ahir community are planning to hold the march to press their demand for a separate regiment in the Indian Army. The entire 14.8-kilometre section of NH-48 will be closed for traffic from 7am to 4pm on Sunday, reads the advisory.
Traffic movement from Jaipur to Delhi will be diverted from IMT Manesar Chowk via Pataudi-Gurgaon Road, and Southern Peripheral Road (SPR) just before Kherki Daula toll plaza, and commuters could reach their destinations via Sohna Road, said the traffic police. Commuters from Delhi to Jaipur have been advised to take alternative routes via Golf Course Road Extension, Vatika Chowk, and SPR connecting NH-48 to reach their destinations.
Ravinder Kumar Tomar, DCP (traffic), said police teams have been deployed at all intersections, who will monitor the traffic movement thoroughly so that commuters do not face any inconvenience. “Traffic police teams have been directed to manage the traffic, and keep a strict vigil. If anyone is found taking law and order in their hands, strict action will be taken against them,” said Tomar, adding that traffic coming from Mehrauli-Gurgaon (MG) Road will have to take a slight 100m left before Iffco Chowk slip road, towards Huda City Centre. Traffic coming from Gurugram bus stand will take an alternative route via MDI Chowk-Signature flyover underpass-Huda City Centre road, said the officials.
The entire stretch on NH-8 will be closed for the movement of heavy vehicles and goods vehicles through the day, and such vehicles heading from Jaipur have been advised to take the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway from Panchgaon for travelling to Delhi and Faridabad; and those heading from Delhi to Jaipur have been told to take the KMP and Sohna Road.
The Sanyukt Ahir Regiment Morcha (SARM) has been spearheading the demand for a separate Ahir regiment in the Indian Army. Vinod Numberdar, a member of SARM, said they will start the march from Kherki Daula to Iffco Chowk around 10:30am. “Members of our community have sacrificed a lot in all possible wars, and have won several gallantry awards. However, there is still no regiment formed
in their names, and have not been recognised like the members of other communities.”