Farmers Movement Archive

Mixed feelings over farmers blocking Ghazipur border

NEW DELHI: There’s more to what meets the eye at the Ghazipur border that has been barricaded for the past over 10 months due to farmers protesting against the three agri laws. While commuters and shopkeepers across Delhi-NCR have reportedly been affected by traffic woes owing to closure of the borders, they have given a mixed reaction over the issue. On Friday, Supreme Court had told a farmers’ body that citizens had an equal right to move freely and what was the point in continuing with the protest as a plea had been filed challenging the farm laws. Hira Singh, an Uber driver from Vinod Nagar, said, “I mainly ferry passengers from Noida. To commute from Noida Sector 62 to Delhi, I have to cross the Ghazipur border. As one side of NH-9 is barricaded, the route that earlier took 15 minutes now takes more than an hour due to the diversions in place, especially during peak traffic hours.” Apart from the UP-Delhi carriageway of NH-9, police have also barricaded the entire road under the flyover that stretches from Murga Mandi to Khoda. As a result, people commuting towards Kaushambi and Vaishali from Delhi have to take a detour and enter Ghaziabad from the EDM side or Anand Vihar ISBT. Moreover, as the other side is also barricaded, those coming from Indirapuram side have to go all the way to the Ghazipur landfill site and then rejoin the highway near the Murga Mandi. Asked about the sealed road, Uttar Pradesh Police said it was required for diverting traffic. Constable D Chauhan, who was stationed at the site, said, “Since the Uttar Pradesh-Delhi carriageway of the highway is blocked by the farmers, the route under the flyover has been blocked for diverting traffic.” Wilson Singh, an engineer who travels from Dwarka to Noida for work, said, “I have been avoiding NH-9 ever since the protests began over 10 months ago. I use DND Flyway to enter Noida now as it is more convenient. The traffic diversion at Khora from under Ghazipur flyover adds half an hour to the commute. Had police done away with the Khoda-Murga Mandi barricading, the traffic chaos would have been much lesser.” Fruit sellers at the vegetable and fruit mandi near the border have expressed dismay over the traffic snarls. Mohammad Sakir, who has been selling fruits near the mandi for the past 28 years, said he had seen a stark reduction in customer footfall in the last 10 months due to the traffic diversions. “Humara dhandha aadha ho gaya hai. Supply bhi der se aata hai kyunki sabke liye rasta band ho gaya hai. (Our business has suffered a loss of 50%. Even goods are delivered late since the route has been closed for everyone),” said an irked Sakir. However, another shopkeeper, Mohammad Khalil, who had a roadside stall near the mandi, said, “We receive the supplies at night, so traffic is not an issue for trucks coming at that hour. I don’t face much of a problem as I can walk to the mandi. It’s business as usual for me.” Several shopkeepers in the colonies adjoining the border seconded Khalil’s version on supplies being delivered to them at the same pace. Tarandeep Singh, who owns a hardware shop at Lakshmi Nagar, said, “Why are we blaming the farmers for blocking roads and causing traffic woes? Why are we not looking at the large number of police barricades and waterlogging? Goods are being supplied on time because trucks travel at night. Across Ghaziabad, I have not heard of any losses because of the alleged traffic issue. I do not agree with weighing rights of farmers over rights of citizens just because they have blocked one carraigeway of the highway to protest. I find the allegations an exaggeration.”

The Times of India

2021-10-04

Delhi