Chaos erupted on major roads linking Delhi and Noida on Monday as around 4,000 farmers from Uttar Pradesh began their march toward the national capital, breaking through several police barricades along the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. The farmers, representing various unions, were protesting to demand legal guarantees for Minimum Support Prices (MSP) on crops, loan waivers, pensions for farmers and laborers, and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. The march, part of their ongoing “Dilli Chalo” movement, began from Greater Noida in the morning, causing massive disruptions throughout the day.
The protest severely impacted traffic, with major roads like the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, DND Flyway, and routes near Mayur Vihar, New Ashok Nagar, and Okhla experiencing gridlocks. As a result, police implemented diversions, rerouting vehicles through Kalindi Kunj and internal roads of Noida. This led to congestion in sectors 15, 16, and 18, with a 7 km-long traffic jam on the expressway. The DND Flyway also saw slow-moving traffic as Delhi Police set up concrete barricades to regulate vehicle flow into the city.
Despite the disruptions, the protest remained largely peaceful, with negotiations continuing between the authorities and the farmers throughout the day. The tensions began around 11 a.m., when farmers gathered near Mahamaya Flyover, prompting the police to implement a comprehensive five-layer security plan over a 4.7 km stretch. The initial security measures involved blocking two lanes of the expressway and inspecting vehicles. The subsequent layers included anti-riot police, reinforced barricades near Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal, and additional defenses near Chilla border and Sector 18, further complicating traffic flow.
However, by the afternoon, the farmers had breached three of these security layers. They climbed container trucks to bypass the third barricade and staged a sit-in outside Gate No. 2 of Dalit Prerna Sthal. Although the farmers were stopped from entering Delhi, they managed to bypass the barricades and continue their protest. In response, authorities claimed that farmers were forced to park their vehicles and walk nearly 5 kilometers to continue the march. Police justified this by highlighting the ongoing Parliament session and the need to maintain law and order.
By evening, the majority of farmers had dispersed after successful negotiations with the authorities, though a smaller group remained near Dalit Prerna Sthal. Lakhan Singh Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida Traffic), explained that the protest was delayed to avoid peak traffic hours and minimize public inconvenience.
This protest began on November 25, with farmers warning that they would march to Delhi if their demand for a legal guarantee of MSP was not addressed by December 2. They also called for compensation for families of farmers who died during previous protests and the reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. Police reported severe congestion from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. due to diversions and barricades, especially around shopping areas and metro stations. By 4:30 p.m., all diversions were lifted, and normal traffic resumed.
SS Kalsi, Additional Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range), stated, “We deployed over 1,000 personnel along the borders, working in close coordination with UP Police. The farmers have not entered Delhi and are currently at Mahamaya Flyover.” DCP (East) Apoorva Gupta added that the police were aware of the march and took appropriate security measures to prevent significant disruptions. He emphasized that protesters were not allowed into Delhi during the Parliament session to maintain public order.
As the protest continues, police officials emphasized their commitment to balancing effective law enforcement with minimizing public inconvenience, ensuring that the ongoing negotiations remain peaceful and productive for all parties involved.
