Dehi-Ggm border checks restricted to just rush hour
GURUGRAM: A day after imposing travel restrictions at the DelhiGurugram border that led to heavy congestion on the DelhiGurgaon Expressway, the police on Saturday somewhat relaxed the checking of vehicles.
While the police continued to check for movement passes during the rush hour, for the rest of the day, however, they will only conduct a random check of vehicles. Although the ministry of home affairs (MHA), late Saturday, allowed the unrestricted movement of goods and people between states, the Gurugram district administration decided to continue with the present restrictions in view of the public health situation in the state.
On Saturday morning, those with movement passes pasted on the front screen of their vehicles were allowed to pass easily unlike Friday when every vehicle was stopped and checked. The checking on Saturday was mainly between 7.30am and 9.30am and 5pm and 7.30pm.
Commuters who travelled on both Friday and Saturday said that the congestion was lesser on Saturday. The volume of vehicles on weekends is much lower than it is on weekdays and the police were also not stopping each vehicle, said commuters.
“On Friday, there was heavy congestion and it took me around 35-40 minutes to cross the border. Even those with passes were being stopped. Today (Saturday), the police were not stopping those with passes. The combination of light traffic and greater leniency on the part of police resulted in less snarls. It took me less than 15 minutes to cross the border,” said Keshav Anand, a resident of Sector 55.A spot visit by the HT team to the expressway revealed that, around 1pm, on the Gurugram to Delhi side of the carriageway, police were checking vehicles for passes in only the extreme left lane while toll operators were checking vehicles in the other three. However, they were only stopping commercial vehicles.
“We will continue to have thorough checking at the borders until we receive any new direction from the government stating otherwise. Only those engaged in essential services, and those with movement passes will be allowed to allowed to cross over to Delhi or vice versa,” said Chander Mohan, DCP, traffic.
When asked about the movement of goods and persons between Haryana and Delhi, deputy commissioner Amit Khatri said that Gurugram will be operating with this clause. “At present, we will be regulating the movement of people and goods as per the MHA’s enabling clause. It is an NCR-wide decision. Any change in this regard will be initiated depending on the situation following a thorough review of public health ,” said Khatri.
› Only those engaged in essential services, and those with movement passes will be allowed to allowed to cross over to Delhi or vice versa
CHANDER MOHAN, DCP (traffic)