New Delhi – Commuters in the national capital faced massive traffic snarls on Tuesday, as it took them nearly two hours to cover a three-kilometer stretch from Geeta Colony Chungi to the ITO Flyover. Due to the extremely slow-moving traffic, people could neither reach their offices on time nor attend to urgent tasks.
Frustrated commuters were seen criticizing the traffic management by Delhi Police, as the usual peak-hour congestion from Laxmi Nagar to Vikas Marg, which typically takes 30 minutes between 8 to 10 am, turned into a two-hour-long ordeal. People vented their anger on social media, sarcastically remarking that it takes 45 minutes to fly from Delhi to Leh, but 1.5 hours to cover a 3 km stretch at ITO.
VIP Movement Was the Major Cause
The traffic chaos was primarily due to the ongoing five-day state visit of Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. On Tuesday morning, he visited Rajghat along with his wife to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present with them.
Due to their movement, several key roads witnessed closures and diversions, including W-Point, A-Point ITO Chowk, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Delhi Gate, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Rajghat Crossing, MG Road, and IP Marg. These restrictions triggered severe traffic congestion across central Delhi.
Citywide Gridlock and Commuter Woes
As a result, vehicles were seen crawling on roads near Rajghat, ITO, Vikas Marg, and Akshardham since early morning. Routes leading to ITO and Rajghat remained jammed throughout the day, forcing motorists to endure hours-long waits. Areas like Delhi Gate, Daryaganj, and nearby localities also faced significant bottlenecks, severely impacting office-goers and residents.
Traffic was further disrupted on routes including Mandi House to Supreme Court, Parliament Street, Bangla Sahib Road, Khan Market, Lodhi Road, Panchkuian Road, and Mandir Marg. Public transport services, school buses, and even ambulances were delayed as traffic moved in patches.
The stretch from Tilak Marg to India Gate saw heavy congestion throughout the day. Vehicles could not pick up speed on India Gate’s Outer Circle, Shahjahan Road, and Humayun Road. By evening, the situation worsened as office workers headed home.
Long traffic jams were also reported on Sardar Patel Marg, August Kranti Marg, and Sarojini Nagar, especially on Sardar Patel Marg, where a kilometers-long jam formed as the Prime Minister’s convoy passed through.
Southwest Delhi and Gurugram Traffic Severely Affected
Southwest Delhi was not spared from the gridlock. Areas like Vasant Kunj, Aerocity, NH-48, and Dwarka Expressway Tunnel experienced severe congestion, causing major inconvenience for commuters heading towards Gurugram. Several passengers even missed their flights due to the delays.
Although Delhi Traffic Police issued an advisory urging the public to take alternative routes and avoid non-essential travel, traffic conditions remained far from normal, reflecting the city’s recurring struggles during VIP movements.
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