A moderate gathering of protesting farmers and a strong police response aimed at preventing them from reaching Delhi led to significant traffic disruptions along the Noida Expressway and its connecting routes. Heavy barricading, diversions, road closures, border checks, and a sit-in demonstration created a commuting nightmare for thousands of commuters, with traffic crawling or coming to a standstill for much of the day.
The focal point of the traffic gridlock was a 4km stretch from Mahamaya flyover to Noida Gate, affecting traffic for kilometers in both directions. Remya Singh, who was stuck in the traffic for over two hours while on her way to Delhi, described the experience as being "marooned in a sea of cars." The journey between Noida and Delhi took between 3 to 4 hours during the afternoon and evening.
The repercussions of the protest in Noida extended to central Delhi, where heavy police deployment was observed amid reports of "splinter groups of 5-10 farmers" attempting to reach Parliament. In Ghaziabad, morning rush-hour traffic on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway was severely disrupted.
Police checks at the UP Gate border resulted in a backlog of more than 6km stretching back to Sector 62 in Noida.
However, a repetition of such chaos on Friday is unlikely. Following discussions with Noida police commissioner Laxmi Singh, leaders of the protesting group announced their decision to return to their demonstration sites outside the Greater Noida Authority office and the NTPC power plant in Noida. They issued a warning of a potential return if their demands continue to be ignored by the government.
The main group of protesting farmers, intending to march to Parliament to advocate for higher compensation for acquired land and larger abadi pots, initially gathered at Mahamaya flyover. Subsequently, around 1,000 farmers began their march towards Noida Gate but were intercepted by police near the bird feeding point of Dalit Prerna Sthal.
Despite the police's earlier efforts to maintain one lane open for traffic, the expressway was completely shut down once the march commenced. This closure affected traffic from Kalindi Kunj and Sector 37 on the Noida-Delhi side and from sectors 15, 16, and 18 on the Delhi-Noida side. Commuters criticized the lack of police personnel to guide traffic through diversions, leading to chaotic scenes in the Sector 18 area.
In Ghaziabad, additional police forces were deployed on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and UP Gate to manage traffic, restoring normalcy at the Ghaziabad border by 2pm. Traffic on the DND Flyway remained relatively smooth.
Ram Bhajan Singh, a 64-year-old farmer from Meerut, expressed solidarity with the protesters, acknowledging the traffic disruptions while emphasizing the necessity of their actions.
Noida joint commissioner (law and order) Shiv Hari Meena reported the deployment of nearly 300 police personnel, commandos, and the Rapid Action Force at the protest site. He stated that while the farmers gathered at Dalit Prerna Sthal, they were prevented from marching towards Delhi, and the situation ended peacefully. Despite traffic issues during the day due to road closures and diversions, police managed to clear the roads by the evening.
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