TRAFFIC SNARLS AS HRY SHUTS DELHI BORDERS

GURUGRAM: Hundreds of commuters were stuck at the Delhi-Gurugram border for hours after it was sealed around 9.40am on Friday, a day after Haryana minister Anil Vij issued fresh orders restricting the entry of people into the state citing a sudden spike in Covid-19 infections.

The movement of vehicles engaged in essential services was delayed as the traffic jam stretched to about four kilometres after police began checking the movement passes.

Hundreds of commuters tried to cross the border as early as possible on Friday and caused the congestion. The police asked commuters to either go back or give an undertaking that they would not return to Delhi if allowed in. Gurugram has reported 520 Covid-19 cases until Friday.

GURUGRAM: Hundreds of commuters were stuck at the Delhi-Gurugram border for hours after it was sealed around 9.40am on Friday, a day after Haryana minister Anil Vij issued fresh orders restricting the entry of people into the state citing a sudden spike in Covid-19 cases. Gurugram police commissioner Muhammad Akil said they have cancelled all old cross-border movement permissions and asked employees working in Gurugram to make arrangements for their stay in the city.

Vij on Thursday wrote to the state home department, blaming a large movement of people between Delhi and Haryana for the sharp rise in the cases. “Most of the cases reported in Gurugram are linked to Delhi and it is not safe to allow free movement, which can lead to more cases,” Vij said on Friday.

Gurugram has reported 520 Covid-19 cases until Friday. It recorded the highest single-day spike in the cases — 115 — on Friday. The Millennium City has the highest number of cases in Haryana, which has recorded 1,721 infections so far. Movement of vehicles engaged in essential services and people exempted from the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions was delayed as a traffic jam stretched to about four kilometres after police began checking the movement passes and turned away hundreds. The traffic jam lasted from 10am to 11.30am.

Doctors, nurses, other health care and sanitation workers, paramilitary personnel, others involved in essential services, and ambulances were permitted to cross the border without any movement passes. Others were allowed only after their ID cards and curfew passes were checked.

Akil said all 11 crossing points have been sealed. He added except for those in exempted categories, the border will remain completely sealed. “The volume of traffic has increased manifolds along all the borders and we have placed barricades and deployed additional forces, including senior officers...”

Akil said they have taken an undertaking from employees of private firms that they will not return unless the lockdown is lifted. Firms will have to apply for permissions for their employees for cross-border travel.

“Commuters have passes valid till May 31. We are checking passes and if anyone is found using an expired pass, strict action will be taken. Most likely the process for new passes will begin on Saturday,” said Akil.