New Delhi:
The Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory asking motorists and general public to avoid major roads in and around Rashtrapati Bhavan today as rehearsals for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi will be held there.
Commuters in the national capital have also been asked to avoid these routes from 4 pm on Monday; Mr Modi's swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to begin at 6 pm.
The traffic police has decided to close down Rajpath (from Vijay Chowk to Rashtrapati Bhavan), Vijay Chowk and its North and South Fountain area, South Avenue Marg, North Avenue Marg, Dalhousie Road and Church Road on May 26 between 4 pm to 8 pm.
The decision to close down the roads was taken as part of the elaborate security arrangements for the event which would be attended by a number of important Heads of States, senior political leaders, diplomats, dignitaries, senior government functionaries and media persons, the advisory said.
Apart from closing down those roads, there would be diversions on other routes around Rashtrapati Bhavan to facilitate the movement of VVIPs/VIPs.
The roads where diversions would be in place are Raisina Road (beyond roundabout of Rail Bhavan towards Parliament House), Pandit Pant Marg (beyond roundabout of Talkatora towards Parliament House) and K Kamraj Marg (beyond roundabout of Kamraj Marg towards Rashtrapati Bhavan).
Diversions would also be in place at Moti Lal Nehru Marg (beyond roundabout of Udyog Bhawan towards R P Bhavan), E-Block, Security Lines Road, Mother Teresa Crescent, Sardar Patel Marg, Vinay Marg, Shanker Road and roundabout of RML Hospital, the traffic advisory said.
Adequate signs and boards have been provided for the information of invitees and other road users and all motorists have been also requested to adhere to the directions of the traffic policemen on duty, the traffic advisory said.