Delhi traffic jam conditions worsened across several parts of the capital on Wednesday night as Diwali shopping crowds combined with regular office-hour movement, road problems and a water pipeline rupture at Kondli. Vehicles were reported moving slowly or remaining stuck for long periods at locations including Jiya Sarai, Ashram Underpass, Inderlok, Three Murti Marg, Kushak Road, Dhaula Kuan, Talkatora Road, Kalkaji, Dwarka and East of Kailash.
Commuters told Live Hindustan – NCR that journeys of five to six kilometres were taking more than an hour in some areas. People travelling to railway stations, bus stands and the airport were among those affected as traffic volumes increased ahead of the festival weekend.
The congestion was particularly heavy on routes leading towards major markets, where shoppers had gathered for Diwali purchases. The report also linked the pressure on roads to poor road conditions and restrictions implemented under the Graded Response Action Plan. These factors added to the usual weekday traffic created by office commuters.
In central Delhi, vehicles at a traffic signal in Inderlok were reportedly held in place for nearly 30 minutes. Traffic on Three Murti Marg and Kushak Road was said to have remained slow for around 20 minutes, while heavy congestion was also reported near 11 Murti on the route towards Dhaula Kuan.
Traffic was also affected on the road from Talkatora Road towards Shankar Road, with commuters seeking assistance from traffic police. Slow-moving traffic and long queues were reported near the Blind School, where a Diwali fair was under way. At Modi Mill near Kalkaji, vehicle users said more than 200 vehicles had remained stuck for over 30 minutes. They also described congestion at the location as a recurring problem during busy periods.
Separate disruption was reported at Kondli Bridge and on the road from Kondli towards Crown Plaza. In an advisory, Delhi Traffic Police said a Delhi Jal Board water pipeline had burst, creating a large pothole and causing heavy traffic congestion. The relevant department had been informed, according to the advisory.
Traffic Police advised people travelling from Noida towards Mayur Vihar Phase 3 to avoid the Kondli Bridge route. The advisory distinguished the Kondli disruption from the festival-related congestion elsewhere, attributing it to the damaged pipeline and resulting road condition. No clearance timeline for the obstruction was provided in the report.
