Kanwar Yatra 2024: Delhi-Meerut Expressway closed for heavy vehicles from July 22 – Know traffic diversions

The Uttar Pradesh police have announced that the Delhi-Meerut Expressway (DME) will be closed for heavy vehicles starting Monday, July 22, due to the Kanwar Yatra. Traffic will be diverted to alternative routes, with restrictions extending to all vehicles, including private cars, from July 29. These diversions will remain in effect until August 5.

Traffic Diversions

The DME typically sees pilgrims traveling from Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad. Vehicles traveling from Delhi via Tulsi Niketan, Seemapuri, and Anand Vihar borders to Ghaziabad will be redirected along Chaudhary Charan Singh Marg towards UP Gate, and then follow NH-9. For destinations such as Haridwar, Amroha, Moradabad, and Lucknow, vehicles will use UP Gate, NH-9, the Dasna Intersection, and then move onto the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, according to a report by the Economic Times.

Vehicles coming from Baghpat and heading towards Delhi will be directed through either Tronica City or Sonia Vihar. Meanwhile, vehicles from Hapur and Bulandshahr destined for Ghaziabad city via the Dasna railway overbridge will be rerouted to NH-9.

Last year, the police redirected traffic from the DME to NH-9, resulting in most vehicles using the DND Flyway and Noida Expressway via the Eastern Peripheral Expressway.

Restrictions on Loni Border

Piyush Singh, ADCP (traffic) said, “The movement of vehicles from the Loni border will be completely restricted. Vehicles going from Santosh Medical Cut (NH-9) towards Meerut Tiraha will be stopped as well. The entry of heavy vehicles from Gaur Green, Khoda, Kalapatthar, Sector 62, Chhijarasi, and Kanavani to Indirapuram via NH-9 will also be diverted.”

New routes will be designated for those coming from Hapur via Bhojpur towards Modinagar. The entry of trucks on Gangnahar Patri Kanwad Road, Pipeline Road, NH-34 (formerly NH-58), and DME will be restricted. Vehicles from the Vasundhara flyover heading towards Mohannagar will also be stopped.

No camps at NH-9 or DME

No pilgrim groups will be allowed to set up camps along NH-9 or DME. “Such camps will be allowed only on traditional routes and not on main roads. These permissions are granted by the police,” Singh noted.

A senior police officer mentioned receiving 214 applications for setting up kanwar camps, out of which 116 have been approved so far.