China PM's visit to hit traffic

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s state visit from Sunday to Tuesday will affect traffic in certain areas of south Delhi. Keqiang will arrive in the capital at 3 pm on Sunday at the invitation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Anil Shukla, additional commissioner of police (traffic), said both carriageways of Sardar Patel Marg will be closed from Panchsheel Marg upto Dhaula Kuan from Sunday afternoon to Tuesday. “No traffic will be allowed at this stretch. Ring Road and Vandematram Marg will be available for all types of traffic including buses,” Shukla said.

Shukla added that traffic police make maximum efforts to ensure that there is no unnecessary congestion on city roads during VVIP movements. “As there will be frequent movements between Indira Gandhi International Airport, places of stay, venues of the meetings and places to be visited by VVIPs, certain minimum restrictions will be in place on certain routes during the visits and at the time of movements,” Shukla added.

Traffic police will ensure unhindered movement on certain routes from different portions of the city. This corridor will include – Ring Road from Dhaula Kuan to AIIMS, Aurobindo Marg, Lodhi Road, Mathura Road, Purana Qila Road, C-Hexagon,  Ashok Road, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Park Street, roundabout Shankar Road and Upper Ridge Road upto Dhaula Kuan.

“Those who want continuous movement can use this corridor to travel from one portion of the city to any other portion of the city,” Shukla added. Bonafide residents, office goers, and visitors of Sardar Patel Marg, Army Battle Honours Marg, Abhai Marg and Manas Marg will be allowed after due verification.

Keqiang’s visit, his first overseas since taking office in March, comes hard on the heels of a three-week deadlock in Ladakh, where India said that China had pitched tents 19 kilometers inside Indian territory on April 15. China denied any incursion.