Noida,

14 Dec (HS): Sunday morning dawned with dense fog in the industrial city of

Noida. A blanket of white fog covered the roads since early morning, affecting

public life. Drivers on major roads were forced to drive slowly with their

vehicle lights on till 10 am. Visibility in plains and open areas was recorded

at 15 to 20 meters. There was a possibility of accidents at many places.

Traffic police personnel stopped the drivers at various toll plazas here and

motivated them to drive with restraint and safely.

Along

with the fog, air pollution is also very severe here, causing the haze to

worsen. The Noida Expressway and Eastern Peripheral Road are blocked due to the

dense fog. Drivers faced huge problems on various highways including Expressway,

Yamuna Expressway, National Highway 91, and National Highway 24. Due to fog, at

many places, drivers realized the presence of vehicles coming from the front only

when they had come very close. They had to suddenly apply brakes. According to

Meteorological Department officials, the minimum temperature on Sunday was

recorded at 9 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature was 22 degrees

Celsius. The humidity level was 61 percent.

Due

to dense fog, the administration has reduced the speed limit of vehicles on

various highways here from Monday, i.e. tomorrow. From 12 midnight of December

15, the speed limit of vehicles on Yamuna Expressway has been reduced from 100

kmph to 75 kmph. Whereas the speed limit for heavy vehicles has been reduced to

60 kmph. This order will remain in force till February 15. Apart from this, the

speed limit for light vehicles on Noida Expressway has been fixed at 75 kmph

while the speed limit for heavy vehicles has been fixed at 50 kmph. On the

elevated road, the speed limit for light vehicles has been fixed at 50 kmph and

for heavy vehicles at 40 kmph.

Deputy

Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Dr. Praveen Ranjan Singh stated that speed limit

information signs are being installed on all expressways and roads. He added

that Grape IV has been implemented in the NCR. Consequently, entry into Delhi

for BS-3 and BS-4 diesel vehicles, along with certain categories of heavy

vehicles, is prohibited from entering Delhi today. Traffic police personnel

have been deployed at various border crossings, including Chilla, DND, Kalindi

Kunj, and Ashok Nagar, and such vehicles are being turned back. He added that

some drivers traveling to Delhi from distant states are experiencing

significant distress due to this situation. They are facing significant

difficulty reaching their destinations. They are being counseled and sent back.

He also added that due to the dense fog, a special campaign is underway today to

install reflective tape on heavy vehicles.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi