Uttarakhand: The Haridwar district of Uttarakhand has announced a week-long closure of its schools and colleges. On Tuesday, Dheeraj Singh, the district magistrate of Haridwar, provided these details. He announced the closure of all educational institutions, colleges, and Anganwadi centres along the Kanwar Yatra route from July 27 to August 2.
The DM stated that a sizeable number of pilgrims may participate in the Kanwar Yatra this year. Many Shiva devotees travel via the main roads to Haridwar to collect Gangajal (holy water from the Ganga river). This decision was taken because of the crowds that would gather along the Kanwar yatra routes.
Kanwar Yatra: Travel To Haridwar
Thousands of pilgrims from Kanwar, in western Uttar Pradesh, actually travel to Haridwar to collect Gangajal. All districts, including Saharanpur, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Meerut, Baghpat, and Muzaffarnagar, have a fair number of Kanwar pilgrims travelling their roads. All roads, including the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and the Meerut Highway, have had their routes redirected in anticipation of the Kanwar yatra.
Kanwar Yatra Traffic Restriction: Delhi And Noida
Traffic restrictions have been put in place in Delhi and Noida to ensure the safety of the pilgrims during the month of the Kanwar Yatra. The yatra began on July 22. These limitations will remain in effect through August 4. Monday, the first day of Sawan (Shravan), marked the start of the Kanwar Yatra, which will end on August 2 when Lord Shiva is offered the holy Ganga water.
Noida Traffic Advisory
In order to ensure smooth vehicular traffic throughout Noida during the Kanwar Yatra, Noida Police issued an advisory. In the advisory, the cops listed avoidable routes as stated below:
- To oversee and control traffic, police will be stationed at the permanent traffic booths close to the Chilla Border.
- The route from Chilla Red Light to Pakshi Vihar Gate will be completely closed to all vehicular traffic until August 4, according to a traffic advisory from the Noida Police.
- Kanwar bearers and camp setters will be permitted to pass through Okhla Bird Sanctuary and onto Sector-14A Shani Temple.
- When travelling from the Delhi-Badarpur Border via the Okhla Barrage to Noida, as well as from Noida-Greater Noida Expressway to Bulandshahr, Hapur, and Moradabad via Ghaziabad, vehicles should take the Eastern Peripheral Expressway.
- Vehicles travelling through Ghaziabad on their way to Bulandshahr, Hapur, and Moradabad must take the authorized detours.
- Vehicles heading to Noida from Delhi via the DND flyover ought to utilize the Eastern Peripheral Expressway as well.
Delhi Traffic Advisory
Delhi Police also released a traffic advisory to make sure that traffic is handled efficiently throughout the city during the Kanwar Yatra. Below is a list of routes that should be avoided:
- As stated in the traffic advisory, the Delhi Police will be checking for traffic violations by taking pictures or videos of them and prosecuting them on the spot during the Kanwarias movement.
- According to the advisory, the Uttar Pradesh Police will reroute heavy transport vehicles (HTV) from Mohan Nagar towards NH-24. Such traffic will not be permitted towards Wazirabad Road via Bhopura and towards GT Road via Apsra Border.
- According to the advisory, devotees carrying Kanwars will travel via a number of routes, including the Apsara Border, the Shahdara Flyover, the Seelampur 'T' Point, the ISBT Flyover Boulevard Road, the Rani Jhansi Road, the Faiz Road, the Upper Ridge Road, the Dhaula Kuan, the NH-8, and the Rajokri Border, which leads to Haryana.