New Delhi: The Delhi-Haridwar National Highway will now be reserved exclusively for Kanwar Yatra pilgrims (Kanwariyas) from 4 to 12 August, and all other vehicles will not be allowed to pass through the route during the same time period.
We have arranged traffic so that lakhs of Kanwariyas who will be travelling between Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand from the Ganga to the holy city in the annual pilgrimage can be brought to a smooth and safe movement. These dedicated corridors are meant to reduce congestion, reduce accidents, and move devotees carrying holy water from the Ganga in a single direction.
As a result, the Delhi-Haridwar Highway will now only be accessible to Kanwar Yatra pilgrims, and non-pilgrims will be diverted to other routes. Motorists, commercial vehicle operators, and long-distance travelers are advised to plan and follow the road diversion routes that are given by the traffic police.
The Kanwar Yatra is one of India's largest annual religious pilgrimages, in which devotees of Lord Shiva collect holy water from rivers such as the Ganga at Haridwar, Gangotri, Gaumukh and other sacred sites before returning to deliver it at Shiva temples in their hometowns.
The pilgrimage sees millions of devotees each year, and state governments and law enforcement agencies have to take into account the traffic management, security and public safety measures. There are dedicated pathways for pilgrims, police presence, CCTV cameras, emergency medical facilities and temporary camps with food, drinking water and rest areas.
The temporary restriction on regular traffic is to avoid traffic bottlenecks and to allow emergency services to operate smoothly during the pilgrimage period, officials said. Heavy vehicles, buses and private cars are expected to be redirected through alternate highways and bypasses in the event of congestion.
Residents and daily commuters were told to keep updated with official traffic advisories and use navigation services before planning inter-state travel during the restricted period. The government also asked the public to cooperate with traffic controllers and avoid unnecessary travel on routes affected by the Kanwar Yatra.
The annual pilgrimage needs extensive coordination between the governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana and other neighboring states. Police, transport departments, municipal bodies, health services and disaster response agencies work with each other to coordinate the movement of pilgrims and keep order.
Based on the number of pilgrims and the ground conditions, traffic officials said, arrangements may need to be reviewed. Additional advisories or route changes may be issued to ensure public safety and traffic flow.
Due to the Kanwariyas being the core of the Delhi-Haridwar National Highway from 4 to 12 August, authorities have advised all commuters to arrange alternative travel routes in advance. This is to keep the Kanwar Yatra safe and the inconvenience low by synchronizing traffic throughout the region.
