With Union Home Minister Amit Shah scheduled to visit Jalandhar today for a mega anti-drug rally, traffic police officials have said that no traffic diversions have been planned in the city so far.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Gurbaj Singh said existing routes would remain open and traffic movement was expected to remain normal. He added that diversions could be introduced if the situation required it.
Jalandhar Rural SSP Harvinder Singh Virk also said that no diversions were in place as of now. Shah is scheduled to land at Adampur today morning, after which traffic arrangements could be changed depending on congestion.
Shah will address the concluding programme of the ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatras’ at a rally site on Paragpur GT Road along the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway. The venue covers around 55 to 60 acres, with separate areas planned for the main event and parking.
The rally will mark the culmination of four anti-drug yatras launched from different parts of Punjab on September 18. The yatras have converged in Jalandhar ahead of the final programme.
Preparations at the rally venue have been underway for several days. Arrangements include seating, parking, drinking water, medical assistance and security.
BJP leaders have said that thousands of workers and supporters are expected to attend the rally, with nearly 2,000 buses being mobilised from different parts of Punjab.
The expected movement of a large number of buses and other vehicles could increase traffic on the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway and roads connecting the rally venue with Adampur and other parts of the district.
Despite the expected rush, traffic officials said there was no blanket diversion plan at present. Personnel will monitor traffic movement and make route changes if congestion increases during the visit.