NEW DELHI: Delhi Metro services will start at 4am on August 15 to facilitate the movement of special guests, invitees and the general public attending the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort.The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said trains will operate at a frequency of 30 minutes on all lines from 4am until regular revenue services begin as per the day’s scheduled timetable, news agency PTI reported.The early Metro services come as Delhi Traffic Police has announced extensive road closures, diversions and restrictions around the Red Fort for the celebrations.
Delhi Metro services from 4am
The DMRC said 1.30 lakh special pre-vended QR tickets have been provided to the ministry of defence for the travel of special guests and bona fide invitees attending the celebrations.Invitees carrying valid physical admit cards issued by the ministry of defence will also receive special pre-vended QR tickets at designated Metro stations, PTI reported.The Lal Quila, Jama Masjid and Delhi Gate Metro stations are the nearest stations to the Red Fort.The ministry of defence will reimburse the DMRC for travel undertaken using the special QR tickets, the corporation said.
Independence Day traffic advisory: Roads to remain closed
Several roads around the Red Fort will remain closed to general traffic from 4am to 10am on August 15. Only vehicles carrying valid labels will be allowed on the affected stretches.The roads that will remain closed include:
- Netaji Subhash Marg between Delhi Gate and Chatta Rail Chowk
- Lothian Road between GPO Delhi and Chatta Rail Chowk
- SP Mukherjee Marg between HC Sen Marg and Yamuna Bazar Chowk
- Chandni Chowk Road between Fountain Chowk and Red Fort
- Nishad Raj Marg between Ring Road and Netaji Subhash Marg
- Esplanade Road and its link road to Netaji Subhash Marg
- Ring Road between Rajghat and ISBT
Vehicles without parking labels have also been advised to avoid C-Hexagon India Gate, Copernicus Marg, Mandi House, Sikandra Road, Tilak Marg, Mathura Road, BSZ Marg, Netaji Subhash Marg, JL Nehru Marg and stretches of Ring Road and Outer Ring Road between Nizamuddin Khatta and ISBT Kashmere Gate during the restricted hours.
North-South movement: Routes to take
For north-south movement, commuters can use Aurobindo Marg, Safdarjung Road, Kamal Ataturk Marg, Kautilya Marg, Mother Teresa Crescent, Park Street, Mandir Marg, Panchkuian Road and Rani Jhansi Road.Another alternative is through Connaught Place, Minto Road, Bhavbhuti Marg, Ajmeri Gate, Shradhanand Marg, Lahori Gate Chowk, Naya Bazar, Peeli Kothi and S P Mukherjee Marg.Commuters can cross the Yamuna through Nizamuddin Bridge, Pushta Road, GT Road and Yudhishthira Setu.
East-West movement: Alternative routes
For east-west movement, commuters can use NH-24/NH-9, Nizamuddin Khatta, Barapulla Road, DND, Ring Road, Bhairon Road and Mathura Road, along with other available connecting routes.Vikas Marg, IP Marg, DDU Marg and Minto Road can also be used.The DND-NH-24-Yudhishthira Setu-Signature Bridge-Wazirabad Bridge corridor will remain available.However, the Old Iron Bridge and Geeta Colony Bridge towards Shanti Van will remain closed.
Goods vehicles, interstate buses to face restrictions
Goods vehicles will not be permitted between Nizamuddin Khatta and Wazirabad Bridge from midnight on August 14 until 11am on August 15.Interstate buses will also not be allowed between Maharana Pratap ISBT and Sarai Kale Khan ISBT during this period.Local city buses, including DTC buses, will not ply on Ring Road between ISBT Kashmere Gate and Nizamuddin Khatta from midnight on August 14 to 11am on August 15.Several roads, including Lothian Road, Netaji Subhash Marg, S P Mukherjee Marg, Vikas Marg, Mathura Road and roads around C-Hexagon and Central Delhi, will also face restrictions for inter-city and DTC buses.
Bus routes curtailed, diverted
Buses ordinarily terminating at Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Old Delhi Railway Station will be curtailed or diverted to locations including Ramlila Ground, Mori Gate, Tis Hazari and Boulevard Road.Normal bus services will be restored after 11am on August 15.Buses from Trans-Yamuna areas, Baraf Khana, Ajmeri Gate, Minto Bridge, Mall Road and South Delhi will face diversions, with several services terminating at Mori Gate, Boulevard Road or opposite Turkman Gate, depending on their destinations.Interstate buses entering Delhi from Ghaziabad will use Bhopura Chungi Road and Wazirabad Road before entering ISBT Kashmere Gate.Buses from Dhaula Kuan will be diverted via Ring Road, Punjabi Bagh, Azadpur and Chandgi Ram Akhara.Buses from Faridabad may terminate at Sarai Kale Khan or use alternate routes towards ISBT Kashmere Gate.
Travelling to railway stations, hospitals?
Passengers travelling to Old Delhi Railway Station, New Delhi Railway Station and ISBT Kashmere Gate have been advised to plan their journeys in advance and use designated alternative routes.There will be no restriction on access to JPN Hospital.The traffic police have advised commuters to reach their destinations early to avoid last-minute inconvenience.Informative signages will be placed at important traffic junctions.DTC recovery vans will be stationed at Gokhale Marg, Ghata Masjid, Yamuna Bazar, Delhi Gate and Chatta Rail Chowk from 5am on August 15 until traffic diversions are cleared.
What cannot you carry to Red Fort?
People attending the Independence Day celebrations have been advised not to carry cameras, binoculars, remote-controlled car keys, umbrellas, handbags, briefcases, transistors, cigarette lighters, tiffin boxes or water bottles to the venue.(With agency inputs)
