Ghaziabad schools to remain closed from July 17-23 for Kanwar Yatra

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The Ghaziabad administration on Wednesday announced the closure of all schools in the district from July 17 to July 23 following the imposition of major traffic diversions due to the annual Kanwar Yatra, The Times of India reported.

The decision, according to the district administration, aims to ensure the smooth movement of Kanwariyas and prevent schoolchildren from facing any inconvenience due to road closures and congestion.

District Magistrate Deepak Meena confirmed the closure, stating that it applies to all schools across boards and levels, from primary to higher secondary, including CBSE, ICSE, technical institutes, madrasas, and Sanskrit board institutions.

“All schools, including those related to CBSE, ICSE, or any other boards, and others, will remain closed during the period. The decision has been taken so that schoolchildren do not face inconvenience due to traffic diversions. We also do not want Kanwariyas to be affected due to movement of school buses and other such vehicles,” TOI quoted Meena as saying.

In response to the closure, several private schools have decided to shift to online classes during the week. “We have already prepared an online timetable to avoid academic loss. Students already face disruptions due to pollution breaks, summer and winter vacations, and this should not become another reason,” said Seema Jerath, principal of DLF Public School.

However, not all educators welcomed the move. A principal from another private school raised concerns about academic loss and inequality. “Not all students have access to online learning. What about government schools or those from economically weaker sections (EWS)? This kind of blanket closure just for a religious event is not fair,” TOI quoted the principal as saying.

In Ghaziabad, the Kanwar route spans 25 km from Muradnagar to Tila Morh, and 42.5km from the Kadrabad border to the Delhi-Ghaziabad border. An auxiliary route of approximately 53 km on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and NH-9 will also be affected.

The traffic police have already banned heavy vehicles from these routes since July 11. From July 14 onwards, one full carriageway (Meerut to Ghaziabad) of the Delhi-Meerut Road is reserved solely for Kanwariyas. The opposite carriageway is now being used for both directions, creating congestion.