Farmers Movement Archive

Outsiders lost their way in diversions, traffic jam

Mohali: The outsiders passing through Mohali and Chandigarh on Thursday lost their way in diversions after traffic was rerouted via Panchkula due to the ongoing farmers’ protest against the farm laws at the Lalru border. Commuters had a tough time negotiating the traffic jams caused due to road closure at Zirakpur.The Mohali administration had diverted traffic at seven points between Zirakpur and Derabassi to avoid chaos at Haryana entry at Lalru.Commuters, especially those passing through Chandigarh and Zirakpur while on way to Delhi, faced a tough time when they were diverted towards Panchkula from near Zirakpur. Most of them lost their way and made rounds in Panchkula.The police had diverted the traffic towards Panchkula-Nada Sahib-Barwala to Yamunanagar Expressway for reaching Ambala and Delhi. The traffic diversion signboards were put up at Airport Road at Patiala crossing, another diversion was from Patiala turning at Zirakpur under the flyover where a massive traffic jam was witnessed.Vehicles had to brave traffic snarls as the entry points at highways approaching Chandigarh were sealed for around 10 hours. At the borders at Zirakpur, Derabassi and Lalru, which were sealed, serpentine queues of vehicles were seen till late night. Mohali police had sealed the Zirakpur entry border at 9.30am and the traffic movement at the flyover was also stopped. The incoming traffic from Ambala was diverted at Derabassi towards Panchkula for reaching Chandigarh. Similarly, the outgoing traffic from Airport Road at Patiala crossing was diverted towards Zirakpur, where it was further diverted towards Panchkula-Nada Sahib-Barwala to Yamunanagar Expressway for Ambala and Delhi.Commuters made many phone calls to the TOI, reporting how they had been stuck in the jam for over an hour. Rajni Bala, a resident of Zirakpur, said, “I have been making rounds of roads to reach Zirakpur from Chandigarh. The protesters must think about common people also, as after day’s work we long to reach home.”Rajat Jain of Ambala said, “The scene at Panchkula side was the worst. I had to wait for 40 minutes for my turn to change the route to the other side of the highway.”

The Times of India

2020-11-27

Chandigarh