India

Ghaziabad Implements Traffic Diversions for Chhath Puja, Bans Heavy Vehicles

By Peeyush Khandelwal

On November 15 and 16, Ghaziabad will host thousands of devotees performing Chhath Puja at water bodies along the Hindon and Yamuna rivers. In response, the city’s traffic police announced diversions starting at 12 noon on November 15, continuing through November 16 until the festivities conclude. Heavy traffic vehicles are prohibited from entering the city limits during this period. Trigun Bisen, DCP (traffic), told HT that traffic police will remain deployed for duties and that the restrictions are part of the plan. The annual Chhath Puja will take place at about 79 sites across Ghaziabad, with four major locations: the Hindon river Chhath ghat near Grand Trunk (GT) Road, near Gaur Green Avenue in Indirapuram, adjacent to UP Gate, near the Upper Ganga Canal in Muradnagar, and at Tronica City near the Yamuna river. The main event will be held at the Hindon river Chhath Ghat, adjacent to GT Road, which connects Mohan Nagar to the New Bus Adda Metro station. According to the traffic plan, heavy vehicles will be diverted to National Highway 9 when traveling from Mohan Nagar toward the Hindon river site, and will not be allowed to proceed from the New Bus Adda Metro station or Nagdwar in Sahibabad to the site. Heavy vehicles will also be barred from proceeding toward the Hindon river site from the rotary at Raj Nagar Extension. Bisen added that once the diversions take effect, strict compliance will be enforced to facilitate the large number of devotees and commuters.