Sealing Ghaziabad border causes traffic snarls, confusion

After the Ghaziabad district administration on Monday once again decided to seal its borders with the national capital, daily ...

After the Ghaziabad district administration on Monday once again decided to seal its borders with the national capital, daily commuters and officegoers on their way back found themselves stranded in serpentine traffic queues, some extending beyond a kilometre, said eyewitnesses.

At the Ghaziabad-Delhi border, passes are asked for and identity cards are being looked at closely before allowing anyone to enter the district. While long jams of vehicles clogged roads, some tried to overtake others leading to confrontation among drivers.

This chaos and confusion was due to the sudden nature of announcement as the order came in the afternoon, when many commuters from Ghaziabad were already in their offices in the national capital. While ambulances and vehicles pressed into essential services are freely allowed to cross over, many were caught in a catch-22 situation, often ending up arguing with traffic personnel.

The sudden decision came after Ghaziabad witnessed a surge of 10 fresh cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours. The district administration in an order said, "In Ghaziabad district, there is an increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the last few days. A large chunk of these cases are linked to those who travel between Delhi and Ghaziabad."

"Hence, on the recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer, the district administration has decided to seal the Delhi-Ghaziabad border until further orders," the order read.

The district administration had earlier ordered to seal its border with the national capital on April 26. According to the district administration on Sunday, 10 people tested positive for the virus in the district.

The administration said that people employed in essential services will be allowed. Doctors, paramedical staff, police, media personnel and bank employees will not need passes. Their identity cards will be enough.

Meanwhile, the officials of the third and fourth grade working with the central and Delhi government offices where 33 per cent attendance system is in place, would be required to produce temporary passes from their offices to gain entry into the district and their identity cards alone would not be considered.

The order also stated that till the time the central and Delhi government employees don't get proper passes their ID cards will be valid to travel. Even lawyers have been allowed to travel to Delhi.

The order also asked the government employees to enter Delhi before 9 a.m. and return to Ghaziabad after 6 p.m.

The order also stated that in case of emergency residents willing to get e-passes will have to apply. Such applications will be assessed and then e-passes issued, it said.

( With inputs from IANS )