Delhi Police have enhanced deployment of security personnel, stationed sand-laden trucks and water cannons and used barbed wire for fencing at the Singhu Border to prevent the protesters from entering the city.
Police said they will not allow the farmers protesting against the Centre's new farm laws to enter Delhi if they reach the borders of the national capital.
Traffic movement was also closed from Bahadurgarh towards Delhi on Thursday evening. In order to prevent farmers from entering Delhi, police deployment was made at NH-24, DND, Chilla Border, Tigri border, Bahadurgarh border, Fridabad border, Kalindi Kunj border and Singhu border.
Routes In Delhi-NCR That Should Be Avoided
In a series of tweets, Delhi Traffic Police issued fresh advisory asking commuters of the capital city to avoid several routes. Official Twitter handle of Delhi Police informed that the Tikri Border, closing West Delhi entry point, has been completely closed for traffic movements by local police.
Traffic intending to go towards Haryana is also closed, the tweet mentioned.
"All motorists are advised to avoid this route in view of the protest by Kishan Sangharsh committee," Delhi Traffic Police tweeted.
It is also learnt that the traffic police is diverting traffic from Mukarba Chowk & GTK road. Traffic is very very heavy in this area. People should totally avoid outer Ring Road, Mukarba Chowk, GTK road, NH-44 & Singhu Border.
The commuters have also been asked to avoid Dhasa Border and Jharoda Kalan Border as they have been closed for traffic movement due to the ongoing protest.
In another tweet, the Delhi Traffic Police informed that there is an obstruction in traffic in the carriageway from Gurgaon towards Dhaula Kuan due to checking by local police near Dhaula Kuan Police chowki. Kindly avoid the stretch.
Delhi Metro Services Disrupted Due To Farmers' Protest
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) services have also taken a hit due to the ongoing protest. As advised by Delhi Police, Metro services will be available only from Delhi towards the NCR sections. However, services from the NCR stations towards Delhi will not be available due to security reasons till further notice.
According to a security update by DMRC, entry and exit gates of Brigadier Hoshiar Singh, Bahadurgarh City, Pandit Shree Ram Sharma, Tikri Border, Tikri Kalan and Ghevra stations on Green Line have been closed for now.
Delhi Metro services will not be available from neighbouring cities to the national capital today, until further notice. However, metro services will be available from Delhi towards the NCR sections.
Who Are Protesting & Why?
Punjab farmers, representing over 30 farm bodies, have announced they will go to Delhi through several routes -- Lalru, Shambhu, Patiala-Pehowa, Patran-Khanauri, Moonak-Tohana, Ratia-Fatehabad and Talwandi-Sirsa. Tension was escalating at all the border points.
They assembled near the borders in tractor-trolleys laden with rations and essentials for their proposed Delhi march. Authorities in Haryana have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in several parts of the state to prevent assembly of the protesters.
Punjab farmers are demanding the repeal of the new farm laws, which, they said, should be replaced with another set of legislations framed after wider consultation with the stakeholders. They also want a guarantee on the minimum support prices.