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Bharat Bandh: Trains halted in Haryana, Punjab; road traffic affected in NCR

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 Over two dozen trains were halted at various locations in Punjab and Haryana and road traffic towards Delhi was affected massively due to the Bharat Bandh call by farmers’ unions on Monday even as Delhi remained relatively undisturbed with almost normal road and metro traffic.

Work wise, offices, both private and government, remained functional, and even schools, including Kendriya Vidyalayas, and colleges were working according to the recent routine post-lockdown. Even all markets, big and small, remained functional across Delhi-NCR. Commuter movement remained unaffected as people freely used their own vehicles or auto-rickshaws, cycle-rickshaws and DTC buses.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a consortium of 100-odd farmers’ unions from across India, 15 trade unions and several political parties have jointly called a Bharat Bandh from 6 a.m. till 4 p.m. on Monday to mark the first anniversary of what they termed as a ‘Black Day’ when the President of India had given his assent to the three farm laws last year.

Within the city, Delhi Traffic Police had closed both carriageways across the iconic Red Fort since morning. The move came in wake of the turnout of events on January 26 when thousands of farmer protesters had barged across the security cordon, caused a lot of damage and planted two flags at the place where Indian Tricolour is hoisted on the Independence Day.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has shut down the Pandit Shree Ram metro station that is close to the Tikri border in western Delhi. However, at other places, the metro is functional without any delay.

Secretary general of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Praveen Khandelwal said, “All markets remained open not just in Delhi-NCR but across India. We are constantly in touch with our representatives everywhere. Things are normal.”

Situation at Delhi borders

The traffic turnout at Ghazipur border was normal till 8 a.m. while that from Uttar Pradesh towards the border was stopped except for police vehicles and ambulances. Farmers could be seen in large numbers sitting on the road and raising slogans against the farm laws.

This is the place where farmers’ leader Prakash Tikait and others have camped for the last ten months.

At the Tikri border, farmers have almost captured the Bahadurgarh Railway station and are squatting on the railway line. However, road traffic and life outside the railway station was normal, shops were open, people were moving around freely using two-wheelers and four-wheelers too.

While the security enforcement was strict at the metro station near the Tikri border, there was no disruption in metro rail services from that station.

The Loni border connecting the Baghpat Highway remained open to traffic with all entry and exit points at the Loni border witnessing no traffic disruption. However, security forces have been deployed at the border area in wake of the Bharat Bandh.

Local people told IANS, “There is no impact of Bharat Bandh in this area. The smooth traffic movement of daily commuters runs normal at the Delhi Loni Border. Market here will remain open as they can’t come here in this area.”

A shopkeeper also said that if farmers anyhow try to enter into Delhi via this route, the security forces will obstruct them at Khajuri DLF toll.

At the Singhu border, there were a large number of tractor trolleys parked but there were relatively very few people. This is one of the places where farmers have been sitting on protest since November 2020.

Around two and half km long stretch of Delhi-Karnal highway (at Singhu village), where a large number of farmers have always been seen during the last few months, on Monday bore an almost deserted look. Even the two stages erected for regular speeches and rallies were almost empty.

Jagdish Singh, a farmer from Ludhiana (Punjab) said, “Trolleys are vacant because people living in them have gone to block roads at Tikri and Delhi-Haryana border.”

“By evening the situation will be different and more and more people will be here,” Singh, who was busy preparing food for the protesters, told IANS.

People, who were at the Singhu protest site, were seen busy either preparing food or cleaning outside their tents.

Security at the outer premises of Singhu protest site has been strengthened with multiple teams of Delhi Police and Central forces deployed. People going towards Singhu from Delhi have to take a long circuitous way as entry on the Delhi-Karnal Road (at Singhu village) has been prohibited.

The commuters on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway had to face a huge traffic congestion as the Delhi Police had put barriers at the Delhi-Gurugram border to keep a vigil on the farmers entering the national capital.

A heavy presence of security personnel was seen at the border. Apart from the central forces, the Delhi Police and the Gurugram Police personnel had barricaded the border. Due to this only two lanes from Jaipur towards Delhi were opened for commuters entering Delhi. The traffic movement on the National Highway-48 was slow and the vehicles were moving bumper to bumper.

Disruption in rail traffic towards Delhi

More than 20 locations are being blocked in Delhi-Ambala-Firozpur division and about 25 trains were affected due to the farmers sitting at the railway stations and railway lines.

The farmers were squatting at the Dera Bassi railway station on the Delhi-Chandigarh railway line, at Hisar-Delhi railway line and the Fatehgarh railway station in Charkhi Dadri area too.

“About 25 trains of the Northern Railways have been affected due to the farmers’ Bharat Bandh. These are all on the Delhi-Ambala-Bhatinda main railway line,” said Northern Railway’s chief public relations officer Deepak Kumar.

Trains starting from Delhi, New Delhi stations, including Shan-e-Punjab, New Delhi – Moga, Delhi-Pathankot, Vande Bharat Express towards Katra, and two Shatabdi trains, were cancelled among others.

Not entering Delhi: farmers’ union

Media Coordinator of Swaraj Abhiyan, which is also a part of this farmers’ consortium, Ashutosh agreed that all action was happening outside Delhi. Farmers from Delhi rural are protesting in their own areas but their protests won’t spill over to urban areas.

“We don’t plan to enter Delhi as of now. Farmers are not being allowed to enter Delhi and we are not even demanding anything new. So, there is no point in entering Delhi right now. Whenever we do, we will inform the government and enter,” Ashutosh, told IANS.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha had assured that the Bharat Bandh will be enforced in a voluntary and peaceful manner.

“So far, all the protests at Delhi borders have been peaceful and no untoward incident has been reported from anywhere,” Delhi police sources said.

Maharashtra

Mumbai: Abu Asim meets Chief Secretary Rajesh Agarwal regarding provision of essential health facilities at Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Hospital.

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In order to provide medical facilities to the people in Mumbai Govandi area, MLA Abu Asim Azmi met the Chief Secretary here in the backdrop of facilities and drew his attention towards the necessary facilities. The hospital is facing shortage of doctors, medical staff and key personnel required for emergency services. Pregnant women are also unable to access proper medical care. Moreover, despite the availability of machines and chairs in the dental department, there is a shortage of doctors and staff. Azmi demanded immediate restoration of essential services including the non-functional X-ray machine in Shatabdi Hospital. After reviewing the situation in both the hospitals, Rajesh Agarwal gave a positive assurance that immediate action would be taken. Azmi said that our aim is to ensure that the people of Govandi get better and timely health services.

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Maharashtra

BMC takes action against Mumbai Central Orchid City Mall; mall shut down.

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Mumbai: The Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated a coordinated action to implement the directions issued by the court. The Supreme Court had issued the necessary directions regarding the Orchid City Centre Mall located on Belasis Road in Mumbai Central area. As part of this process, a joint notice has been issued to the concerned owners/developers as well as the users/occupants of stalls, units and shops, directing them to vacate the premises of Orchid City Centre Mall. Further, clear instructions have been issued that entry or use of the mall premises is prohibited until formal permission is obtained from the competent authority. A coordination meeting was recently held by the BMC’s ‘D’ ward. Officers of the concerned municipal departments, representatives of Nagpada Police Station and Best Undertaking as well as representatives associated with Orchid City Centre Mall also attended the meeting. During the meeting, the representatives of the mall management were directed to voluntarily and strictly comply with the order of the Supreme Court. Supreme Court Orders In 2020, a fire broke out at the Orchid City Centre Mall located on Belasis Road in Mumbai Central. In this context, the Supreme Court issued directions on August 25, 2026. It should be strictly ensured that the entire Orchid City Centre Mall building which has been damaged due to fire shall not be used for any purpose until the developer completes comprehensive repairs of the entire structure. The building cannot be used in any manner until the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) administration is satisfied that the entire structure (including all floors) is completely safe for all activities and works and complies with all legal requirements. Directions issued by the court The Supreme Court has ordered that the entire building be kept completely sealed and no one should be allowed to enter the premises.

In light of the Supreme Court order, on the directions of the Supreme Court, it was decided during the meeting to conduct a joint operation to vacate the Orchid City Centre Mall building, involving the Building and Factory Department, Building Proposal Department and Mumbai Fire Brigade of the BMC. Accordingly, a joint notice has been issued to the concerned owners/developers as well as the users/occupants of the stalls, units and shops regarding the vacating of the building. Public notices prohibiting citizens and users from entering, using or occupying the building have been displayed in the premises of the mall. The notices clarify that the entire Orchid City Centre Mall cannot be used, and entry will remain strictly prohibited, until the Hon’ble. Supreme Court’s directions are followed and prior permission is taken from the competent authority. Meanwhile, instructions have been issued to disconnect the water supply of the mall, take appropriate action regarding the municipal license and disconnect the electricity supply (except for the electricity required for construction purposes). Nagpara Police has been directed to provide necessary police security for the smooth conduct of the operation and maintenance of law and order.

The BMC administration appeals to all concerned parties to voluntarily comply with the court’s directions. They are urged not to enter or use the premises of the mall until formal permission is obtained from the competent authority and to fully cooperate with the municipal and police administration. However, the administration has made it clear that if the directions are not followed, strict action as per the law and the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court will be taken regarding vacating and sealing the premises.
Meanwhile, the concerned departments of the Municipal Corporation will independently take necessary action within their respective legal jurisdiction. The administration has further stated that any future permissions regarding entry, use, or occupancy of the building will be granted by the Municipal Corporation acting as the competent authority, as per the directions issued by the Hon’ble Supreme Court.

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Maharashtra

Political parties should encourage voters to get their names included in the electoral roll by fulfilling the requirements for the necessary documents.

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Mumbai: As per the instructions of the Election Commission of India, the draft electoral rolls have been published under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)-2026 programme. Claims and objections regarding the draft rolls, such as cases where names are missing or there are problems with the existing entries, can be filed till September 30, 2026. Voters are being informed about this through various channels. However, District Election Officer and Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has appealed to all political parties to encourage voters to include their names in the voter list by completing the necessary documents. Meanwhile, representatives of political parties have expressed satisfaction over the actions taken by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation administration regarding the SIR-2026 programme in the Mumbai area.
A meeting with political parties regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)-2026 programme was held today (03 September 2026) at the Municipal Corporation Headquarters. The meeting was attended by Additional District Election Officer and Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Prajakta Verma-Lawangire; Additional District Election Officer and Additional Municipal Commissioner (Western Suburbs) Dr. Vipin Sharma; Additional District Election Officer and Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Shri Abhijit Bangar; Joint Commissioner (Assessment and Collection) Shri Vishwas Shankarwar; along with representatives of various political parties. The representatives of political parties were given detailed information about the ongoing process for Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls (SIR)-2026 through a computer presentation. Under this programme, several processes have already been completed, including door-to-door visits by Booth Level Officers (BLOs); Distribution, collection and digitization of counting forms; publication of draft electoral roll; and rationalization of polling stations (with the approval of the Election Commission). Currently, claims and objections will be accepted from August 31 to September 30, 2026. Thereafter, claims and objections will be disposed of between August 31 and October 29, 2026, and the final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on November 4, 2026. In this context, District Election Officer and Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide said that the administration is trying to complete the SIR-2026 process within the stipulated time through coordination of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), Supervisors, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and Booth Level Agents (BLAs). He urged political parties to cooperate with BLOs to reach out to voters, provide them with proper guidance, and submit the necessary documents for inclusion in the voter list. Bhide also appealed for cooperation to ensure that the entire process is carried out smoothly and properly.

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