Dynamic closure on Meerut–UP Gate carriageway as dak kanwars pass
Meerut commuters have been warned of intermittent restrictions on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway (DME) after police reserved the carriageway from Kashi toll plaza near Meerut to UP Gate exclusively for dak kanwars, officials said on Sunday. The arrangement, which will remain in force till August 11, allows authorities to open or shut the stretch depending on pilgrim footfall.
The decision came into effect at 8am on Sunday when Meerut police notified counterparts in Ghaziabad that the number of dak kanwars — pilgrims who collect Ganga water from Haridwar and return in relays — had risen. The Delhi section of the expressway remains open, police clarified, while the Meerut–Ghaziabad side will be dedicated to dak kanwars when required.
“The Meerut-Ghaziabad side of DME is now dedicated to dak kanwars,”
said DCP (traffic) Trigun Bisen, according to police statements. Another senior traffic official, additional DCP (traffic) Varun Singh, said the operational pattern of the stretch would be dynamic. He noted that the route was opened in the evening when pilgrim numbers were low but would be restricted immediately if crowds increased.
Impact on traffic and alternate routes
Authorities and traffic planners said the intermittent closure is likely to push vehicles onto narrower internal roads, increasing pressure on routes towards the Chilla border and Noida Expressway. The interruption will be felt most acutely by officegoers travelling to Delhi on weekdays, particularly during morning and evening peak hours.
- When the Meerut–UP Gate carriageway is reserved, Delhi-bound traffic from Ghaziabad will be diverted.
- Police indicated Link Road in Vaishali and the Anand Vihar border could become busier during closures.
- Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time and follow police directions and diversions.
Police had earlier planned to start the closures from August 7 under a traffic diversion plan issued on July 24, but kept the expressway open for two additional days after monitoring initial kanwar movement and finding numbers low. The change on Sunday followed fresh reports from Meerut police about increased pilgrim footfall.
Schedule and enforcement
| Section | Status until Aug 11 |
|---|---|
| Kashi toll plaza (near Meerut) to UP Gate | Reserved intermittently for dak kanwars; dynamic openings/closures |
| Delhi section of DME | Remains open |
Police said operations would be flexible: the carriageway will be opened when pilgrim numbers are low and shut immediately when crowds build up. The move aims to ensure the safety and unimpeded passage of dak kanwars while balancing the needs of regular commuters, but officials acknowledged it would cause temporary congestion and rerouting.
Traffic authorities in Meerut and adjoining Ghaziabad have been coordinating the diversion plans and monitoring pilgrim movement to minimise disruption. Commuters using the DME or nearby arterial roads were urged to check traffic advisories, follow police directions and plan journeys accordingly.
The short-term closures come during the kanwar yatra season, when large numbers of pilgrims travel in relays from the Haridwar region to deliver sacred water. Police said the arrangement is strictly temporary and tied to crowd levels; normal flow would resume on the stretch when the pilgrim movement subsides.
Local residents and officegoers expressed concern about possible delays on Monday and Tuesday, when weekday traffic is typically heavy. Authorities said they would continue to review the situation and adjust the closures on an hourly basis if necessary.
