March 21: Good Day To Stay Home

IF YOU are planning to visit Central or New Delhi on March 21, it would be wise to postpone your trip. Because come Tuesday morning, and Bill Clinton, this area, particularly Connaught Place and India Gate, will practically become a "no entry zone" for most.

Motorists coming from the trans-Yamuna area are expected to have the most harrowing time. Traffic policemen have warned that the Ring Road, from Nizamuddin up to Chandgi Ram Akhara will be effected.

This stretch includes both the Nizamuddin Bridge and the ITO Bridge, which would mean that crossing the Yamuna from East Delhi would become a near impossible task.

 

The police added that the affected areas will include the entire C-Hexagon at India Gate and all roads converging into it. These roads include Akbar Road, Rajpath, Raisina Road, Ashoka Road, Man Singh Road, Janpath, Rafi Marg, Mathura Road and Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg. In fact, police officials said that traffic here may come to a complete standstill for some time.

Motorists coming to Connaught Place should ready themselves for major traffic jams. The traffic police has said that all roads leading to Connaught Place would be affected because of diversions.

The busy Dhaula Kuan crossing and Sardar Patel Marg are also expected to be choked due to the US President's movements.

Though the traffic diversions are expected to stay in place only till 3.00 p.m., it may be several hours later before traffic flow is normalised. What the traffic policemen expect can be gauged by a statement made by an official who said, "Tuesday would be a good day to stay at home."