Independence Day will be celebrated on 15th August at the Red Fort of Delhi, for which the Delhi Traffic Police has made complete preparations. Delhi Police has issued a traffic advisory to ensure that people do not face problems in transportation on Independence Day. At the same time, the schedule of Metro has also been changed. In such a situation, read the traffic advisory before leaving home.
These roads will remain closed
According to the advisory issued by Delhi Traffic Police, entry of private vehicles around the Red Fort will be controlled from 4 am on August 15. Netaji Subhash Marg (between Delhi Gate to Chhatta Rail), Lothian Road (GPO to Chhatta Rail), SP Mukherjee Marg (HC Sen Marg to Yamuna Bazar Chowk), Chandni Chowk (Fountain Chowk to Red Fort), Nishadraj Marg (Shanti Van to Netaji Subhash Marg), Ring Road (Rajghat to ISBT Kashmiri Gate), Outer Ring Road (ISBT Kashmiri Gate to IP flyover via Salimgarh Bypass) and Esplanade Road to Netaji Subhash Marg from 4 am to 11 am. Movement will be completely restricted. Only vehicles with specially issued parking stickers/labels will be allowed to move around the Red Fort. Other vehicles will be diverted.
Use these alternative routes
According to the advisory issued by the traffic police, diversion for interstate buses and heavy commercial vehicles will come into effect from 11 pm on Wednesday, August 14. At the same time, restrictions will come into effect for the common people from 4 am on August 15, which will remain in effect till 11 am. Due to this, people passing through the Red Fort and within a radius of 4-5 km around it may have to face problems.
Entry of heavy commercial/goods vehicles will be stopped on Ring Road between Nizamuddin Khatta/Sarai Kale Khan and Wazirabad Bridge from 12 midnight on 15th August. Movement of interstate buses and DTC-cluster scheme local buses will also remain closed between Sarai Kale Khan bus stand and ISBT Kashmiri Gate. These buses will have to reach their destination via other routes or their routes will be shortened.
To reach Old Delhi Railway Station, people will have to go from Rani Jhansi Road flyover or ISBT Kashmiri Gate via Mori Gate, Pul Duffrin and SP Mukherjee Marg. Similarly, to reach ISBT Kashmiri Gate, one will have to go via Panchkuian Road, Rani Jhansi Road, Boulevard Road, Geeta Colony Pushta Road and Yudhishthir Setu. There will not be much problem in traveling to LNJP Hospital, but to go to Kasturba Hospital, one will have to go from Ajmeri Gate via Hauz Qazi and Chawri Bazaar.
When will the traffic open?
To go to New Delhi Railway Station, it would be better to go from ITO via DDU route towards Ajmeri Gate. All roads will be open for traffic movement by 11 am on August 15.
These vehicles are not allowed to enter Delhi from the border.
Let us tell you that from 10 pm on 14th August to 12 noon on 15th August, no heavy vehicle will be allowed to enter Delhi from the border. Delhi Police has tightened security in the national capital ahead of the Independence Day celebrations and has deployed over 3,000 traffic police officers, over 10,000 police personnel as well as installed 700 cameras with AI-based facial recognition.
Change in metro schedule
For the convenience of the public on the Independence Day celebrations on 15 August 2024, Delhi Metro will start its services at 04:00 am on all its lines from all terminal stations. On this day, metro facility will be available at an interval of every 15 minutes till 6 am. After this the metro will run as per the normal time table.
Apart from this, those who have invitation card issued by the Ministry of Defense to participate in the Independence Day celebrations will be allowed entry and travel on showing valid government photo identity card at the stations. This arrangement will be valid only for exits at Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk metro stations, as these stations are closest to the venue.
At the same time, invitation cards will also be valid only for return journey from these three stations. Regular announcements will be made inside trains to inform passengers about these arrangements. The Defense Ministry will reimburse DMRC the travel expenses of such passengers.