Farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' Protest Causes Major Traffic Disruptions in Delhi-NCR

Traffic disruptions have severely impacted parts of Delhi and Noida as farmers began their 'Delhi Chalo' march toward the Parliament complex on Monday. The protest, organized by the Bhartiya Kisan Parishad (BKP) along with several other farmer groups from over 20 districts, aims to press for key demands that include a discussion on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) amongst others.

In response to the protest, the police set up barricades and issued advisories for commuters traveling from Noida to Delhi. The first group of farmers, led by the BKP, began their march at noon. Photos and videos from the scene revealed massive traffic jams around the Maha Maya flyover in Noida, the starting point of the protest. More farmers are expected to join the protest from December 6, with the march proceeding daily from 9 am to 5 pm, following which, the farmers are set to spend the nights on the roads.

The farmers have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, after their earlier attempt to march to Delhi was blocked by security forces. They are demanding a legal guarantee for MSP. Sarwan Singh Pandher, a leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), criticized the central government for not engaging in any talks with farmers since February 18. He accused the government of avoiding dialogue and reaffirmed that farmers reject contract farming while demanding a legal guarantee for MSP.

In addition to the MSP guarantee, the protesters are also demanding a farm loan waiver, pension for farmers and farm laborers, a halt to electricity tariff hikes, the withdrawal of police cases, justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, and the reinstatement of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act. Furthermore, they seek compensation for the families of farmers who died during the 2020-21 protests. Sarwan Singh Pandher confirmed that another phase of the march will begin on December 6, as additional farmer organizations from other states, including Kerala, Uttarakhand, and Tamil Nadu, are expected to join the protest.

To manage the impact of the protest, the Noida Police issued a traffic advisory detailing several restrictions and diversions for commuters. Heavy vehicles were prohibited from major routes like the Yamuna Expressway and Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. Alternate routes were provided for travelers.

The police also recommended using the Delhi Metro for smoother travel and urged commuters to check live traffic updates. Emergency vehicles will be prioritized during the diversions. Security measures were stepped up at all Noida-Delhi border points, with increased monitoring and rigorous checks to ensure safety during the protest.