Overview
- The Kanwar Yatra began on July 30 and authorities have activated phased traffic restrictions that include a heavy-vehicle ban from July 30, complete vehicle bans on some stretches from August 4–12, closure of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway from August 7–12, and GT Road restrictions for August 9–12.
- Uttar Pradesh has deployed an unprecedented security force with more than 60,000 police constables, about 5,500 sub-inspectors and specialist units such as the ATS, SDRF and NDRF on heightened alert.
- Integrated command centres are monitoring the pilgrimage with nearly 7,000 AI-enabled CCTV cameras, drones, tethered drones and dedicated Kanwar control rooms to track crowds, direct traffic and spot security risks in real time.
- Local operations include detailed field-level planning in Ghaziabad with roughly 3,500 police personnel, 157 beats, 502 static duty points, quick-reaction teams, watchtowers, dozens of ambulances and multiple control rooms.
- Commuters should expect longer journeys and higher fares because traffic is being diverted onto corridors such as the Eastern Peripheral Expressway and Delhi-Dehradun route, and officials say the measures build on past years’ lessons to aim for ‘zero incidents’ during the pilgrimage.