But some of the buses and cars bringing supporters may not get past the capital’s borders. The Congress-led INDIA bloc has Delhi Police’s nod for its November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan. Delhi’s restrictions on older vehicles registered outside the city will kick in the same day, with 39 enforcement teams deployed round the clock at 13 major border checkpoints and toll plazas.
Delhi Transport Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh has made it clear that anyone entering Delhi will have to comply with the pollution restrictions. The curbs do not prevent the rally itself, for which Delhi Police has issued a no-objection certificate. The protest is part of the Opposition’s campaign over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and its demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Traders have already urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to postpone the rally until after Diwali, warning that the massive gathering and traffic diversions could affect business in nearly 20 major markets around Ramlila Maidan.
“There will be no exception,” Singh said.
Four teams have been assigned to remove end-of-life vehicles from different parts of Delhi and hand them over to scrappers. 145 buses and 558 overloaded vehicles were impounded between October 11 and 25, according to official figures. Another 4,572 vehicles were challaned for invalid Pollution Under Control Certificates. Another 14 teams have been attached to District Transport Officers and District Magistrates under the Delhi government’s Parivartan scheme.
