Agra Expressway may be closed briefly on Jan 27 for Obama

On January 27, the Yamuna Expressway which connects Delhi with Agra, may be closed for normal traffic for a few hours as a back up route for US President Barack Obama who will be visiting Taj Mahal.
Government sources today said Obama is slated to travel to Agra by air on that day but the six-lane 165 km-long Expressway may be shut down for commoners as part of contingency plans in case the air route cannot be used.
"If the flight option fails, then a contingency plan of a road route will be there whereby whichever road is identified will be stopped for traffic for a few hours before the dignitary takes the route," the sources said indicating security establishment's preference for Yamuna Expressway in such an eventuality.

Such contingency plan is readied whenever a highly protected head of state visits India, the sources said.
Although the sources did not give specific details, authorities may be keeping in the mind the fact that dense fog has been preventing flight operations in the mornings.
The Yamuna Expressway is a controlled-access route.
The US President is arriving here on January 25 on a three-day visit during which he will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attend the Republic Day parade as chief guest and visit Taj Mahal.