New Delhi: Security has been stepped up at the Delhi-Noida borders ahead of a protest called by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in the national capital on Saturday, with police personnel and Border Security Force jawans deployed at key points. The demonstration has been organised to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of irregularities in election-related processes.
The heightened security arrangements have triggered concern among individuals travelling daily from Noida and Greater Noida to workplaces in Delhi and Gurugram. Many residents fear severe traffic congestion, route diversions, and lengthy delays, while others noted they might request work-from-home arrangements or take leave if their routine transit is severely impacted.
At the Chilla border, personnel from both the Noida and Delhi police departments, alongside Border Security Force troops, have been positioned as part of the reinforced security protocol. Law enforcement officials stated that teams have initiated checks on vehicles flagged as suspicious and are questioning individuals when necessary. Security personnel are closely monitoring public buses, commercial taxis, and private cars entering Delhi from Noida, utilizing reinforced concrete barriers to manage the flow and prevent any incidents during the demonstration.
Meanwhile, leaders from several social organizations, farmer unions, and political entities in Noida alleged that police subjected them to house arrest ahead of the demonstration. Representatives, including Bhartiya Kisan Parishad president Sukhveer Khalifa, reported having security personnel stationed around their residences to prevent them from leaving to join the protest in Delhi. Local authorities did not issue an immediate official response to these claims.
Commuters expressed apprehension regarding their weekend travel plans, citing potential difficulties in reaching offices due to security checks and uncertain transport availability. Some workers noted that relying on alternative driving routes instead of the metro could result in substantial delays and higher costs.
In contrast, a Gautam Buddh Nagar Traffic Police official assured the public that daily commuters would face no official restrictions on their movement. Additionally, the Noida Metro Rail Corporation confirmed that its transit services would operate normally on Saturday following the standard weekend schedule. This clarification helped alleviate worries tied to separate directives ordering the closure of specific Delhi Metro stations during the demonstration, though the NMRC network operates exclusively between Noida and Greater Noida without entering Delhi territory.