Delhi Kanwar Yatra Triggers Widespread Traffic Chaos on City Streets
Delhi is experiencing severe traffic congestion and prolonged delays as the Kanwar Yatra enters its final phase, bringing a sharp rise in pilgrim movement, particularly ‘dak kanwars’ and decorated trucks. Over the past two days, the city has witnessed unrelenting gridlock affecting both intercity and intracity commuters, transforming key routes into slow-moving arteries. The influx of devotees, often moving in large, slow-speed convoys with elaborate setups, has occupied entire lanes, forcing other vehicles to a standstill and exacerbating the daily commute for residents.
The primary pressure points of this traffic disruption are the increasing numbers of ‘dak kanwars’—groups of devotees moving in fast, relay-like formations—and oversized trucks adorned with loudspeakers and decorations. These vehicles frequently move in clusters, occupying full lanes and significantly impeding the flow of regular traffic. Additionally, in many areas, kanwarias have spilled onto footpaths and service lanes, further constricting movement space for both pedestrians and vehicles. On Monday, major thoroughfares such as the DND Flyway, Ashram flyover, and various stretches of Ring Road experienced severe choking throughout much of the day, turning traffic maps red with congestion.
Areas including Moolchand, AIIMS, Defence Colony, and Ashram saw complete gridlock, while the Outer Ring Road and Mathura Road were similarly affected, showing near-continuous congestion. Commuters reported being stuck for over an hour in places like Defence Colony, even without any reported accidents or breakdowns, solely due to the slow-moving convoys. The entire day, until late evening, saw similar conditions on numerous stretches, with sources indicating that many Kanwar camps were situated nearby, further contributing to the bottlenecks. Even major junctions like Kalindi Kunj faced significant slowdowns due to the pilgrim movement.
To manage the extensive disruption, Delhi Traffic Police implemented strict restrictions and diversions on Monday and Tuesday. Commercial vehicles and buses were barred from using key routes like Yudhistir Setu (from Tis Hazari to Shahdara) and Boulevard Road (from ISBT Kashmiri Gate to Tis Hazari), with similar restrictions applied on Lothian Road. Key diversions were also activated at major points such as Kashmiri Gate’s metro gate 5, the ISBT Ring Road out gate, and GPO Chowk. Heavy vehicles were rerouted through longer alternative loops, including via Yamuna Marg, Raj Niwas Marg, or NH-24 through Akshardham, inevitably adding load to already congested routes and increasing travel distances for many.
Despite the increased deployment of traffic personnel and advisories urging commuters to opt for alternative routes, the sheer volume of Kanwar-related movement continued to significantly impede traffic throughout the day. Officials anticipate a gradual easing of congestion by late Wednesday as the yatra concludes, allowing the city’s roads to return to their normal flow.
