JOIN USPrime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, and his visits to Rajghat and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s house on Monday led to inconvenience to Delhiites.
The traffic police were forced to close several roads around central Delhi for short durations to make way for Modi’s cavalcade.
However, vehicle movement did not come to a standstill due to diversions planned in advance by police.
Due to security reasons, roads around Rashtrapati Bhawan remained closed for traffic from 2 pm to 8 pm. Many of the roads connecting Rajpath were affected. Roads around India Gate were also barricaded for security checks, but people were allowed to visit the war memorial.
“Inconvenience was caused to motorists, but roads around Rashtrapati Bhawan can be accessed from all directions, due to which easy diversions were available. No traffic jam was reported near Rashtrapati Bhawan because of the swearing-in ceremony,” Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anil Shukla said.
Hundreds of political leaders, diplomats, dignitaries and senior government functionaries also attended the ceremony, which affected traffic movement from Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa were among some of the leaders who arrived in Delhi on Monday.
Modi visited Rajghat at 8 am, where he paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi. He was accompanied by senior BJP leaders, including Harsh Vardhan, Vijay Goel and Meenakshi Lekhi.
Traffic police said the visit forced them to stop vehicles on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Satyagraha Marg, Mahatma Gandhi Marg and Nishad Raj Marg, among others.
Traffic inconvenience is likely to continue for another day as Modi will host Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for discussions at Hyderabad House at 9 am on Tuesday.Arrangements have been put in place to facilitate movement of VIPs to and from Hyderabad House.