Delhi-Meerut Expressway closed for Kanwar Yatra — here are all the alternative routes to use

The Delhi-Meerut Expressway has been closed to all vehicles for the Kanwar Yatra. Traffic from Delhi toward Meerut and beyond will be diverted at the Dasna Interchange on NH-9 toward Hapur. The restrictions came into effect from 8 AM on Friday, confirmed by DCP Traffic Triguna Bisen.

Commuters have been advised to use three designated alternative routes — the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway and NH-9 — to avoid Meerut Road and the Delhi-Meerut Expressway during the Kanwar Yatra period.

The number of pilgrims on Meerut Road is steadily increasing — with both Postal Kanwars returning from Haridwar and regular groups passing through throughout the day. To manage movement, one lane from Meerut to Delhi has been reserved exclusively for Kanwariyas.

The Kanwar Yatra is an annual Hindu pilgrimage where devotees of Lord Shiva — called Kanwariyas — walk to sacred rivers including the Ganges to collect holy water (Gangajal). They carry the water back in decorated pots balanced on bamboo poles across their shoulders, to offer at local Shiva temples in the ritual known as Jalabhishek.

Traffic officials say the next two days are the most critical for the Kanwar Yatra in terms of volume. Additional police personnel have been deployed at major intersections and traffic police are continuously monitoring all vehicle movement on affected routes.