Noida: The entire 41km stretch of Yamuna Expressway in Gautam Budh Nagar has been declared a no-protest zone by police, citing risks to commuter safety, potential obstruction of emergency services, and traffic disruption in a busy high-speed corridor linking Delhi-NCR to western Uttar Pradesh, and from June 15, also Noida International Airport.The move follows a May 22 Allahabad High Court order that prohibits political and non-political demonstrations on the stretch.The order is likely to have particular bearing on Zero Point — the interchange at the start of the Yamuna Expressway — which has emerged over the past five years as the region’s most prominent protest site, especially for farmers. Its location at the junction of Noida and Greater Noida has made it a favoured site for demonstrations seeking visibility and administrative leverage.The spot gained attention during the farm law agitation. In Nov 2020, the interchange became a focal point for farmer mobilisation as groups marching towards Delhi to protest against three new central agricultural laws were stopped by police at Zero Point.On Dec 2, 2024, nearly 5,000 farmers gathered around Zero Point and the adjoining expressway corridor during a “Delhi Chalo” call, over land acquisition and compensation grievances, causing traffic disruption. The agitation escalated after police detained 123 farmer leaders from a protest site near the Delhi-Noida border.Police said signboards are being installed at key points along the expressway, at the commissionerate office, and at concerned police stations to inform commuters of the restrictions. Awareness drives are also underway to ensure residents and organisations are informed of the court’s directions. Continuous monitoring will be carried out to enforce compliance, and those attempting to organise or participate in demonstrations on the prohibited stretch will face legal action..
