Day 2: Essential service providers face ordeal
Ghaziabad/GB Nagar: After the administration of both Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar districts ordered sealing borders with Delhi, many people associated with essential services had to struggle while explaining to cops why they needed to travel to Delhi.
Better management was observed in Ghaziabad on the second day as cops posted at UP Gate allowed people to cross over to Delhi after checking ID cards and examining the reason for travel.
However, in Noida, long queues of vehicles and commuters stranded on roads for nearly an hour was seen at DND flyway where cops did not allow entries without a valid pass issued by the administration or concerned authorities.
The order issued by Ghaziabad administration states that only essential services and health workers who would carry valid pass issued by the authorities were being allowed by the police at the border. GB Nagar administration made it clear that special e-passes will be issued to people, with a valid reason, who want to pass through.
"Ambulances, small and heavy vehicles carrying essential commodities, officials of the central government with passes issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), doctors and health workers employed with hospitals and emergency services in the district. media personnel in possession of specific passes issued by the District Information Officer or Additional Superintendent of Police of Gautam Buddh Nagar will also be allowed," said a senior administrative officer of GB Nagar district while adding that a performa for issuing e-passes has been shared on the official website.
Meanwhile, in Ghaziabad, cops have identified separate lanes for vehicles involved in providing essential services in order to ease traffic. Even cops didn't stop those who verified themselves by showing e-mails or WhatsApp messages from their offices which states that he/she belongs to banks, medical department and other essential services along with passes.
Cops said that the vehicles plying on roads have also been cut short by 40 per cent on Wednesday due to sealing. "On Thursday, cops will be more strict in checking all the passes and other related papers before allowing the commuters to cross Ghaziabad-Delhi border," said Kalanidhi Naithani, SSP of Ghaziabad Police.
Police from both these districts are closely keeping watch on each vehicle and monitoring the number of persons seated with commuters, including health officials, being questioned on why more than two were seated in four-wheelers. Thermal screening of each commuter has been made mandatory, however, many commuters with high temperature due to hot weather conditions were asked to return.
The sealing of border was followed by orders from the administration of both the districts keeping in view the rising cases of Covid-19
and tracing most of them to have links with Delhi. Ghaziabad administration on late Monday night issued orders to seal its borders with Delhi which was followed by GB Nagar of Tuesday night.
