Massive jam at Delhi-Gurgaon border as authorities barricade roads, impose traffic restrictions

New Delhi: Massive jams were witnessed in many parts of the national capital on Thursday morning as the authorities barricaded roads, imposed traffic restrictions and suspended Internet services to clamp down on protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. The Delhi-Gurgaon border was among the worst affected.
The police also imposed a ban on large gatherings under Section 144 of the CrPC near Red Fort in central Delhi, the starting point of one of the proposed rallies, and many protesters who came there were subsequently detained. Traffic cops said they are inspecting every car entering the city to ensure that people planning to join the march called by Left parties and other groups do not sneak in.
The restrictions were imposed even as protesters showed no sign of backing down after police said they will not allow demonstrations against the controversial law, which aims to expedite citizenship for non-Muslim migrants. “Permission has not been granted for the protest march to be held from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar by communist party over The Citizenship Amendment Act and NRC at 12 pm today,” the Delhi Police had announced about another planned agitation in a tweet earlier in the day.
Mobile service providers Airtel and Vodafone confirmed that voice, internet and messaging services have been suspended in “certain areas of Delhi” in compliance with the government’s instructions.
Police also announced that the Mathura Road-Kalindi Kunj route has been closed for traffic movement, and asked commuters from Noida to enter Delhi through DND Flyway or the Akshardham road. Access to the Delhi Metro was restricted to a great extent too, with the authorities shutting down the entry and exit gates of the Jamia Millia Islamia, Jasola Vihar, Shaheen Bagh, Munirka, Lal Qila, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Vishwavidyalaya, Patel Chowk, Lok Kalyan Marg, Udyog Bhavan, ITO, Pragati Maidan, Khan Market, Central Secretariat, Mandi House, Vasant Vihar and Barakhamba stations.
Even as the traffic situation in the national capital came to a head, various airlines advised travellers heading to the Indira Gandhi International Airport to set off well in advance to avoid missing their flights. Vistara Chief Commercial Officer Sanjiv Kapoor said even its airline crew was stuck due to restrictions on the roads. “Due to heavy traffic jam, our crew transport heading to airport are also stuck for the past one hour near Ambience Mall Gurgaon. Very tough travel conditions today,” he tweeted.
Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav had earlier said that the protest will take place despite restrictions imposed by the government. “Final clarification: there is no change in our plans. We start at 11 am from Lal Qila,” he tweeted shortly before being detained.
Although simultaneous protests against the law have been planned in over 10 cities across the country on Thursday, their administrations have not given them permission to do so. Protests, often violent, have swept the country since the citizenship law was passed last week. Much of it has taken place in the Northeast, West Bengal and Delhi.
Historian Ramachandra Guha was among 30 protesters taken into custody in Bengaluru, where restrictions on public gathering have also been imposed. “I have been detained by police for holding a poster of Mahatma Gandhi and speaking to the press about the Constitution,” he told NDTV.
The Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police OP Singh justified the clampdown on agitations against the controversial law, saying that there are “other ways of protesting… like writing letters”.