Delhi Police Struggle to Remove Permanent Structures at Singhu Border

Delhi Police have begun removing barricades from the Singhu border to restore normal traffic flow on National Highway-44, but are facing significant challenges breaking through the concrete-iron mixed boulders and walls. 

Despite working at war-footing, authorities estimate it will take at least three to four more days before traffic can flow smoothly through the border point.

The Delhi Police had sealed the Singhu border on February 13 last year with multiple layers of fortifications in response to farmers' protests. These barriers included concrete blocks, soil-filled containers, cemented concrete-iron walls, barbed wire, and iron nails. 

Extensive Fortifications

Learning from the previous farmers' agitation in 2020, police had not only barricaded the main carriageway but also sealed service lanes on both sides to prevent protesters from entering Delhi. 

While the Haryana Police stopped farmers at the Shambhu border, authorities eventually reopened service lanes and single lanes on the main carriageway of NH-44 on March 13 this year. 

On Thursday, police began removing barricades from lanes on the flyover. Heavy machinery has been deployed at Singhu for this purpose, but dismantling the reinforced structures has proven difficult.

Traffic Disruptions Continue

Sanjay Singla, president of Zila Vyapar Mandal, reported significant traffic jams throughout the day as machines worked to remove the permanent barriers. He advised travelers to use alternative routes to Delhi until the removal work is completed. 

Subhash Gupta, director of Kundli Industrial Association, noted that the Delhi Police had constructed permanent RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) structures at Singhu, which would require considerable time to remove completely.