Traffic jam at Sector 29 roundabout in Chandigarh on Saturday. (Jasbir Malhi) Traffic jam at Sector 29 roundabout in Chandigarh on Saturday. (Jasbir Malhi)

A day before the Prime Minister Narendera Modi’s visit to Panchkula, a part of the city was brought to a halt as a rehearsal was held on thee main route. PM will be landing at the Chandigarh Airport and then travel by road to reach the venue in Panchkula.

Three thousand UT Policemen will be deputed on Sunday for ensuring a safety on the route.

A contingency route from the venue to PGI will also be guarded by police officials and that of the traffic police.

A rehearsal was carried out on Saturday at 2.30 pm by the Chandigarh police under the supervision of the Haryana Police. The senior officers started from the Airport and took the main route to the venue with entire motorcade which will take the Prime Minister to the venue.

A total of 28 reserve forces have been deputed only on the route and a few at the contingency route to PGI. Station House Officers, In charges of the police posts and all the officials were deputed from 8 am to 5 pm for checking the arrangements on Saturday.

“All the Deputy Superintendents of police (DSPs) and Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) have been deputed along the route and at the airport. The total force of three thousand people include the commando forces, anti-riot, anti-sabotage teams, mounted police, and the bomb detection squads of the UT Police and the Haryana police have been deputed through the route”, said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Security and traffic, Maneesh Chaudhry.

SSP Chaudhry also suggested that the commuters of Panchkula to Chandigarh should take the IT Park route to avoid traffic snarls. “We have also sent a message to the Director Health of Punjab and Haryana to refer only the serious cases which need expert assistance to PGI so that the patients are not unnecessarily harassed,” said the SSP.

Mukesh Wadhwa, a resident of Mohali said, “I have been stranded in the traffic for the last half an hour. If this is the amount of harassment a commuter will have to face, then I will prefer to spend my Sunday at home.” Wadhwa was stuck in traffic for half an hour during the dry run.

The entire traffic coming towards the Industrial area was stopped 50 meters before the intersections. DSP Traffic administration Pawan Kumar said, “Since it is a Sunday and the PM will be reaching in the morning, we are expecting less traffic and so better management.”

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