Preparations are in full swing at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan for the INDIA bloc's maharally on Sunday, with the opposition expecting around 10 lakh people to attend. Delhi Police has deployed more than 4000 security personnel keeping the crowd and security in mind, and the opposition is holding the rally over vote chori, SIR and the demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
The march will start at 12 noon from Minto Road junction on Delhi's Outer Circle and travel via Ajmeri Gate and Jawaharlal Nehru Marg to Ramlila Maidan. The rally will run till 5 pm, and special traffic arrangements will be in force in central Delhi from 10 am to 5 pm.
14-zone security grid at Ramlila Maidan
Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar reviewed the security arrangements at Minto Road and Ramlila Maidan on Saturday along with senior police officers, including the Special CP, DCP Central, DCP New Delhi and Joint CP. Ramlila Maidan has been divided into 14 zones, with more than 4000 police personnel deployed and over 200 CCTV cameras keeping watch.
People will be checked with metal detectors before entering the ground. Each zone is under an ACP-rank officer, while two zones are monitored by Additional DCP-rank officers. Anti-riot vehicles and vehicles fitted with surveillance equipment have been deployed to deal with any untoward situation, and a control room has been set up inside Ramlila Maidan.
Traffic diversions at 10 places in central Delhi
Traffic police have completed preparations for the rally, and traffic may be diverted at 10 major places if needed. Police personnel will be posted at Netaji Subhash Marg T-point, Rajghat, Delhi Gate, ITO A-point, Ajmeri Gate red light, Ranjit Singh flyover on Barakhamba Road, Jhandewalan roundabout and Turkman Gate, among other places.
Jams are possible on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, JLN Marg, Aruna Asaf Ali Road, Minto Road and Barakhamba Road, and traffic may also be affected around Kamla Market and Hamdard Chowk. Parking has been arranged in front of LNJP at railway parking, DMRC parking and Rajghat for vehicles coming for the rally, and additional personnel will be deployed.
Metro options and hospital routes kept open
Traffic police have advised people to take the Metro, with the Yellow Line's New Delhi station giving direct access to the railway station. Those using the Airport Line can board from Shivaji Stadium station, while people travelling by car or auto-taxi have been asked to avoid ITO, DDU Marg, Minto Road, Delhi Gate and Jawaharlal Nehru Marg and reach the station from the Paharganj side instead.
Routes via Chelmsford Road from Outer Circle towards Paharganj, and via Karol Bagh, Jhandewalan, Vande Mataram Marg and Panchkuian Road to Basant Road, or via Rani Jhansi Road and Deshbandhu Road, also lead to New Delhi station from Paharganj. Entry from the Ajmeri Gate side is also possible after getting down from the Sheela Cinema bridge at Paharganj.
Ambulances and emergency vehicles going to LNJP and GB Pant hospitals will have an uninterrupted route, and there will be no change in pedestrian routes. Organisers have been asked to share details of invitees, volunteers and buses, coordinate parking with traffic police, and avoid speeches that disturb communal harmony. A traders body had also appealed for the rally to be postponed, citing disruption to business.
