Farmers' protest: Essential services to Capital stranded

New Delhi: As protesting farmers continued to block the Capital's borders at Singhu and Tikri here for the fourth day now, while locals and commuters have been hit hard, so has the transportation of certain essential supplies to Delhi with large vegetable and fruit markets already expressing concern over a supply crunch and price-hike if the situation is not resolved.

With most of Delhi's milk and vegetables coming through Haryana, the situation is likely to worsen if the Centre does not decide to hold unconditional talks with the farmers. As was on Saturday, hundreds of trucks and goods vehicles carrying essential and perishable items like fruits and vegetables were lined up outside Delhi borders in light of the horrid traffic and large blockades at Singhu and Tikri borders.

"Vehicles are parked on both sides of the road, stretching out for nearly three kilometres," Naresh Kumar, a truck driver from Himachal Pradesh said. He added that his truck carrying apples from the mountain state had been stuck at the Kundli border for two days now.

One of Delhi's largest vegetable wholesale markets at Azadpur Mandi also expressed concern over the blockade. "On Friday, we received 2,800 tonnes of fruits instead of regular supplies of 5,500 tonnes; and 5,600 tonnes of vegetables instead of regular supplies of 6,500 tonnes," the chairman of the Azadpur Agricultural Produce Market Committee, Adil Ahmad Khan told reporters. Another trucker expressed sheer dismay at the deadlock, with his truck full of perishable vegetables stranded near the Tikri border. With no idea as to how he could get into the Capital, he said he feared all his goods might be damaged by the time he reached his destination. Residents, shopkeepers were also in a fix thinking about how many days the blockade will continue.

Meanwhile, traffic in and around the National Capital Region has been hit by the blockade with the Delhi Traffic Police continuously asking commuters to avoid roads such as the Signature Bridge to Rohini, GTK Road, National Highway-44 and Singhu border. As a result, traffic had been diverted from many major areas, leading to massive halts on the alternate routes. "Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba Chowk and GTK road. Traffic is very very heavy," the police notifies earlier on Sunday.

Many locals and commuters had to abandon their public transportation and travel across borders on foot. One commuter Sanjay Bhatt was travelling from Jammu through Gurugram for a family emergency but was confused as to how he would get there. The situation was the same for Manu, who was on his way to Chandigarh.

And despite regular traffic updates from the Delhi Police, confusion over interstate travel persisted among commuters. Many said they did not understand why the situation was so dire despite the government allowing farmers in and technically opening up the borders.

One official further said, "Tikri border is closed for any traffic movement. Available Open Borders to Haryana are following Borders Jharoda, Dhansa, Daurala Jhatikera, Badusari, Kapashera, Rajokri NH 8, Bijwasan, Bajghera, Palam vihar and Dundahera borders."

To keep the commuters updated about the roads heavily affected and traffic jams, route diversions and which road to use, the Delhi Traffic Police frequently alerted the public about traffic movement through Twitter and Facebook.

Meanwhile, reports from Gurugram and adjacent towns showed that online delivery services had also been hit hard. Many residents in these NCR cities complained of their products not being delivered for over a couple of days and expressed ire over why the deadlock still continued if the Centre had agreed to talks.