Just days before Diwali, Delhi’s streets turned into a gridlock on Friday as traffic congestion crippled the city throughout the day. With crowds thronging markets for festive shopping and travelers heading home, the traffic system came under immense pressure. The heaviest jams were reported across Central, South, East, North-West, Outer, and North Outer Delhi.
Hours Spent Covering Just a Few Kilometers
Long queues of vehicles were seen at several major routes, forcing commuters to spend hours covering short distances. Heavy festive shopping and office-goers returning home created chaos on key city roads, where cars were seen crawling bumper to bumper. In some areas, traffic came to a complete halt for extended periods.
Major Areas Affected by Gridlock
Key roads such as Mother Teresa Crescent, Panchkuian Marg, Connaught Place, Loni Road, Hanuman Road, and Baba Kharak Singh Marg saw severe congestion.
In North Delhi, traffic remained jammed on GT Karnal Road, Raj Niwas Marg, Ghanta Ghar Chowk, and Roshanara Road.
In South Delhi, a one-kilometer-long jam was reported from Greater Kailash to Moolchand Flyover.
Vehicles Crawling for Hours
Severe jams were also reported on Mathura Road, around Pragati Maidan, and roads leading to East Delhi. On the Outer Ring Road, traffic moved at a snail’s pace near Wazirpur and Azadpur. In South-East Delhi, long queues of vehicles were seen near Jamia Millia Islamia and Tikona Park, while traffic pressure kept building on the NH-48 flyover heading from Delhi to Gurugram.
Festive Crowd Adds to the Chaos
With Diwali and Dhanteras around the corner, markets across the city witnessed an overwhelming rush of shoppers. According to the Delhi Traffic Police, congestion is expected to intensify further over the weekend. Authorities have appealed to citizens to use public transport and avoid overcrowded routes whenever possible.
Police Take Action
Rajiv Kumar, DCP (New Delhi Range, Traffic), said that the heavy rush at markets and bus terminals has put additional pressure on city roads. Extra personnel have been deployed at key junctions, and measures are being taken to restore normal traffic flow.
Strict Orders to Avoid Check Posts in Congested Zones
After three consecutive days of severe traffic chaos, the complaints reached Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha, who issued strict instructions to local police to assist in clearing jams immediately. He also ordered that no police pickets or vehicle checks should be conducted at locations that could worsen congestion. This arrangement is currently temporary for the festive period but may continue if found effective.
Traffic Police to Handle On-Site Jam Clearance
Due to the high volume of movement during the festive season, multiple VIP routes, and ongoing city events, Delhi has been witnessing intense congestion — with half-hour routes taking up to two and a half hours. Vehicle queues stretched up to 2–3 kilometers in several places.
A senior traffic officer stated that traffic police teams will now reach jammed spots themselves to manage the situation. For instance, despite heavy traffic outside Chanakyapuri police station for the past three days, no local police officer was seen stepping out to ease the jam, highlighting the urgency of the new directive.
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