By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 5 Nov: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to address a rally at the Parade Ground here tomorrow. In this regard, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today conducted an on-site inspection of preparations at the Parade Ground. On this occasion, he directed the officials to complete all arrangements within the stipulated time. Reviewing preparations at the venue, the CM stressed on the need for coordinated efforts by all the departments to ensure the smooth and successful conduct of the event.
Dhami inspected arrangements related to the stage, seating, security, traffic management, parking, drinking water, sanitation and other public amenities. He directed officials to ensure that all facilities are properly organised and that special attention is paid to the convenience of people attending the programme. He said security and traffic management plans should be implemented effectively so that the public does not face unnecessary inconvenience.
The CM also instructed officials to ensure proper entry and exit arrangements and maintain organised parking facilities. Reviewing the progress of preparations, he said all work should be completed before the deadline and responsibilities of officers clearly defined. Regular reviews should be conducted at every level and no laxity should be tolerated in the arrangements, he added.
Rajya Sabha MP and BJP state President Mahendra Bhatt, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Secretary Shailesh Bagauli, Vinay Shankar Pandey, senior government officials and district administration officers were present during the Chief Minister’s inspection.
The event, along with the Decoration Parade at Police Lines and heavy Dhanteras shopping, is expected to place considerable pressure on Dehradun’s traffic system tomorrow. In view of the expected rush, police have declared the area around Parade Ground a zero zone and imposed traffic diversions on several key routes.
During the public meeting, the stretch from Rozgar Tiraha via CJM Tiraha to Lansdowne Chowk will remain a zero zone for all vehicles. Traffic moving from Survey Chowk towards Orient Chowk and Lansdowne Chowk will be diverted towards Kanak Chowk via Rozgar Tiraha, while vehicles travelling from Buddha Chowk towards Cross Road will be routed through the MKP area. Vehicles heading from Araghar towards EC Road will be diverted through CMI, MKP and Buddha Chowk before proceeding towards Subhash Road.
Special arrangements have also been made for bus services. Buses arriving from Haridwar and Rishikesh will drop passengers near the water tank after passing through Rispana Bridge, Dharampur, Araghar, Dwarika Store and Survey Chowk. They will then proceed via CJM Tiraha, MKP and Race Course for parking at Bannu School. Buses from Roorkee, Bhagwanpur and ISBT will use the area in front of Doon Club as their designated drop point, while buses from Sahastradhara, Raipur, Vikasnagar, Chakrata and Sahaspur will also have designated drop points near Survey of India Gate and Doon Club.
Traffic restrictions will also remain in force around Police Lines during the Decoration Parade. The road from Negi Tiraha to Bannu School Chowk via the Police Line petrol pump will remain a zero zone. Loading vehicles will not be allowed in Paltan Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., while a one-way arrangement will be operational from Raja Road through Peepal Mandi towards Darshani Gate. Traders’ vehicles will be allowed entry on a token basis.
Police have warned that vehicles parked in no-parking zones will be lifted by cranes and fined Rs 1,500. Citizens have been advised to use public transport and two-wheelers as far as possible. Emergency services, including ambulances, police and fire service vehicles, will remain exempt from the restrictions.
To manage festive shopping during Dhanteras, separate parking arrangements have been made across the city. Vehicles visiting Dharampur Bazaar will be parked in the Race Course area, those heading to Nehru Colony on the link road near the GST office, and vehicles visiting the Rispana area in Rajiv Nagar. Additional parking has been earmarked at Dussehra Ground for Premnagar Bazaar and on Maldevta Road for the Raipur Shiv Mandir market. Other designated parking locations include Survey Chowk, Kabul House, Mangla Devi Inter College, Kanak Chowk Multi-Level Parking, MDDA Complex, Janpath Complex, Rangers Ground, Darbar Sahib and Rajiv Gandhi Complex.
