Delhi traffic curbs continue as CJP protest enters second day, diversions affect roads

Pic/PTI

Stringent traffic restrictions remained in force across several parts of Delhi on Sunday for a second consecutive day as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) renewed its call for protests demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

According to a Delhi Traffic Police advisory, diversions came into effect from 6 am, with traffic movement expected to be affected around Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place, Mandi House, Patel Chowk and several other key intersections in Lutyens' Delhi.

Traffic diversions across central Delhi

The restrictions followed announcements by the CJP and student organisations, including the Students' Federation of India (SFI), that protests would continue until their demands were met.

The affected stretches include the Ashoka Road-Jantar Mantar Road roundabout, Tolstoy Marg-Janpath crossing, Jai Singh Road-Sansad Marg crossing, Rail Bhawan roundabout, Patel Chowk, Gol Dak Khana and several intersections around Connaught Place.

Traffic movement was also expected to be affected at Mandi House, the Minto Road-Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg junction, the Lodhi Road flyover, Neela Gumbad roundabout, the Samrat Hotel roundabout and the Sardar Patel Marg-Panchsheel Marg crossing. Underpasses beneath the Bhikaji Cama Place and Moti Bagh flyovers were also listed among the affected locations.

CJP announces daily marches

At a press conference at HKS Surjeet Bhawan on Saturday, CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde said marches to Jantar Mantar would be held daily until Kumar was removed as chief election commissioner.

Shinde also alleged that protesters, including Abhijeet Dipke, had been subjected to inhumane treatment by Delhi Police during detention.

CJP leaders face preventive arrest

Police said on Sunday that CJP leaders Dipke, Ranka and Das had been placed under preventive arrest. They were scheduled to be produced before the Executive Magistrate at Delhi Cantt Police Station on Sunday.

Meanwhile, SFI general secretary Srijan Bhattacharyya said students would hold peaceful demonstrations. He added that locations where police barricades prevented them from proceeding would become their protest sites.

Commuters advised to plan journeys

The Delhi Traffic Police advised commuters to avoid non-essential travel and allow extra time for journeys to railway stations, inter-state bus terminals and the airport, particularly when travelling through New Delhi and central Delhi.

The advisory said restrictions would be regulated or relaxed based on real-time assessments of the situation. Commuters were also urged to follow updates on the traffic police's official website and social media platforms.

(With inputs from PTI)