Kanpur Commissionerate Police has issued a detailed traffic plan for the Chhath festival, with the sharpest restrictions kicking in on Sunday afternoon, when the biggest crowds gather at the Ganga and canal ghats. According to reports in Hindustan and Amar Ujala, the diversion applies from 2 PM on 15 November and stays in force until the crowd of devotees has gone home on 16 November.

When do the restrictions apply?

Chhath began today, Friday 13 November, with Nahay-Khay. The evening offering to the setting sun falls on Sunday, 15 November, and the morning offering to the rising sun on Monday, 16 November. The traffic plan is built around those two days. Amar Ujala reports that 55 ghats are active across the city, and police have placed extra force and barriers at 18 points for traffic and parking. The DCP (Traffic), Abhaynath Tripathi, will monitor the diversion on the day, according to Hindustan.

Which roads are closed to heavy vehicles?

The plan mostly keeps medium and heavy vehicles away from the ghat belts, and bars four-wheelers from a few narrow approaches. As reported:

  • Ganga Barrage: medium and heavy vehicles cannot go towards Atal Ghat or Karbala Chauraha. They will go straight on to Yash Kothari and Mandhana Chauraha.
  • Company Bagh to Bima Chauraha, Jajmau and VIP Road: no medium or heavy vehicle may enter; they must use other city roads.
  • Gurudev Chauraha: heavy and medium vehicles may not take Mainawati Marg towards Karbala Chauraha and should continue via Gol Chauraha.
  • Sarsaiya Ghat approaches: four-wheelers from Phoolbagh must not turn right at Meghdoot Tiraha and should use Bada Chauraha. Cars coming from Green Park cannot go beyond DAV Tiraha towards the ghat; they can turn right at Green Park for MG College, or right at DAV Tiraha for Madhuvan Tiraha.

What about Panki, Barra and Gujaini?

The western and southern ghats get their own rules.

  • Kalyanpur and Panki: heavy and medium vehicles from Awas Vikas chowki cannot head to Panki Mandir; they turn left towards Maswanpur and Vijay Nagar Chauraha. Movement from the Panki Padav railway crossing towards Panki Mandir and the Awas Vikas canal is closed, and vehicles should turn right at New Transport Nagar for LML Chauraha.
  • Bhauti Bypass and Vijay Nagar: medium and heavy vehicles are not allowed from New Transport Nagar Tiraha on Bhauti Bypass towards Vijay Nagar Chauraha. They go via the gas plant and LML Chauraha, while the stretch from Vijay Nagar to Bhauti Bypass chauraha is also closed to them and traffic goes via Dadnagar and LML.
  • Barra: vehicles arriving from Nandlal Chauraha and CTI Chauraha cannot take the Deep Tiraha to Barra Bypass road; they turn left towards Goshala Chauraha. From Barra Bypass towards Deep Tiraha, traffic goes via Naubasta Chauraha.
  • Gujaini: from Mayank Chauraha up to Tatya Tope Nagar and Ambedkar Nagar, and from Gujaini to the Gujaini canal, medium and heavy vehicles are barred. They should pass through Gujaini government hospital.

Where can devotees park?

Seven parking areas have been marked. Two-wheelers and cars may be parked on both sides of the road from Karbala Chauraha up to Karbala mosque, at the Bakkal (Parmat) parking, and on both sides from Sarsaiya Ghat Chauraha towards Chetna Chauraha. Ramlila ground near Gujaini chowki and Ambedkar Park near Mayank Chauraha are also open for parking. On the Armapur side, vehicles can park on the left of the road towards Vijay Nagar Chauraha, and near Awas Vikas canal at Panki, on the left towards Kalyanpur crossing.

What should residents do?

If you are not going to a ghat, avoid the ghat belts on Sunday evening and Monday morning, and plan trips to the airport, railway stations and bus stands with extra time. Delivery and goods vehicles that fall in the medium or heavy category should plan to finish their city runs before 2 PM on Sunday or wait until Monday. Devotees travelling to ghats should go in groups, carry offerings carefully and follow police instructions at the barriers. Parking areas close to the ghats can fill early, so walking the last stretch is likely.

What happened to ghat preparations?

The traffic order comes a day after reports of unfinished work at several canal ghats, including dark water and poor lighting, which the municipal corporation has since been told to fix. Readers can follow our earlier report on those conditions.

What next?

The diversion is announced for Sunday and Monday only. Any change will be communicated by Kanpur Commissionerate Police, so check their official social media accounts before you leave home.