Politicians too face brunt of CWG security

NEW DELHI - With security tightened and traffic restrictions in place for the Commonwealth Games, it is not just the common people but ministers and senior politicians as well who are facing problems reaching their destinations in the capital.

Security has been tightened around the main venue Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies of the Oct 3-14 event will be held and at other Games venues.

Ministers and bureaucrats having offices in the CGO complex area near the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium are facing the biggest problem, and most of them have been forced to leave early in order to reach their destination.

“Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh Monday had to go for a Group of Ministers (GoM) meeting in North Block, and he started at least half an hour early to reach on time realising the traffic restrictions around the JN Stadium,” said a ministry official.

The environment ministry is housed at Paryavaran Bhawan in CGO complex.

Traffic movement has been restricted around JN Stadium from Sep 28 to Oct 14, affecting those travelling to central government offices in the CGO Complex, Electronic Niketan, Soochna Bhawan, Scope Building, the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd as well as Pragati Vihar and Lodhi Colony.

The vigilance around the stadium has been increased and entry into the government buildings has been restricted.

“Earlier, we used to enter CGO complex without any problem but now security personnel are asking us several questions about the purpose of our visit, whom to visit. It has never been so strict,” said Archana Shukla, a journalist.

Police Monday announced traffic restrictions around the JN Stadium.

“No vehicle, including those of paramilitary forces, will be allowed on the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium road” unless they have parking labels issued by the security wing, Joint Commissioner Satyendra Garg said.

No vehicle can be parked on the stadium road.