Kanwar Yatra: Advisory for Delhi – NCR

The Kanwar Yatra is the annual pilgrimage of Hindu God Shiva's devotees, known as Kanwariyas, to Hindu holy sites of Haridwar, Gaumukh, and Gangotri in
Uttarakhand and Sultanganj in Bihar to fetch the holy water from the Ganges River. The pilgrims then journey back to offer the holy water at their local Shiva
temples, specifically the temples at Kashi Vishwanath, Baidyanath, and Devghar.

The Yatra takes place during the sacred month of Shravan according to the Hindu calendar. An average of 55 lakh pilgrims reach Haridwar every year. The yatra is
th
slated to start from July 20 this year. Most pilgrims cover the entire distance of about 100- 250 kms on foot, and largely use the national and state highways to
complete their journey. Consequently, lakhs of pilgrims pass through Delhi-NCR every year, and this rush of pilgrims results in traffic disruptions on arterial roads,
primarily on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway.

Comprehensive arrangements have been made to ensure that there are no traffic congestions due to Kanwariyas, who are expected to reach Delhi - NCR by the
nd
weekend of July 22 . A special focus is being given to the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, and more than 1,000 personnel will be deployed to ensure that the traffic
movement is not obstructed.

Routes Affected
ŸFor kanwar yatra, only kanwars will be allowed to use NH-58; Entry for
bigger vehicles, into Ghaziabad, will be blocked from July 24th and all
vehicles will be prohibited to ply on NH-58 from July 27th to August 3rd.
ŸOther major routes that could be affected are Delhi - Gurgaon
Expressway, the Delhi Noida Direct (DND) toll road and NH 24.
ŸIn Gurgaon, Ambience Mall, Signature Tower, IFFCO Chowk, Rajeev
Chowk, Hero Honda Chowk are usually the worst hit on NH 8.
ŸIn addition to the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, in Gurgaon, policemen will
be deployed at and around 35 other spots, including Pataudi Road,
Farrukhnagar Road, Sohna Road, etc. The authorities have also identified
areas such as Sohna, Badshahpur, Shikhopur, Sehrawan and Bilaspur as
sensitive spots.

Hazards
Travel
ŸDue to the large processions of walking pilgrims inevitably disrupting the
highways, many traffic diversions are made so as to ensure smooth flow of
pilgrim traffic as well as normal traffic.
ŸSome of the devotees also use vehicles to travel the distance which
causes steep increase in traffic compared to other times of the year.
ŸRailway stations and trains are usually crowded with these groups of
devotees. Large crowds in the stations and insufficient number of trains
may cause situations leading to stampedes or increased tension among
masses.
Crime
ŸLarge masses travel together and there may be miscreants who try to
create trouble during such events. Mob mentality may lead to vandalism
or cause damage to property.
Communal
ŸSince this is a religious event, communal tensions can easily flare up over
even a minor incident.
ŸPolitical parties can exploit the religious nature of the event for their own
political gains, thus adding to the religious fervour.
Recommendations
ŸBe aware of changes in routes and blockages while travelling; use
alternative routes for travelling, if possible.
ŸCater for delays caused due to blockade of roads.
ŸIf travelling by train or bus, expect large crowds at the important transit
points.
ŸExpect heightened security checks at important locations such as
temples, railway stations, and bus stands.
ŸBe cautious while driving as there may be increased footfall on the roads.
ŸEducate yourself about local temple and temple areas that maybe
crowded and avoid taking those roads.
ŸMonsoon rains could add to the misery of the situation; plan your travel
carefully to avoid being stuck due to rains or kanwar yatra.
ŸFollow local news and traffic advisories to know the ground situation, and
traffic conditions.

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