Delhi traffic is set to be disrupted around Chandni Chowk and the Red Fort on Wednesday as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s ‘Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy’ padyatra moves from Gauri Shankar Temple to Town Hall, with restrictions and diversions scheduled between 3 pm and 5 pm.
Around 10,000 people are expected to participate in the march, according to the traffic advisory reported by Live Hindustan – NCR. Police have advised commuters to avoid the Red Fort area and use public transport during the affected period.
Vehicle movement may be restricted or controlled on Netaji Subhash Marg and Nishad Raj Marg. Traffic may also be diverted from Chhatta Rail Chowk, below Hanuman Setu, Raja Ram Kohli Marg, the Subhash Marg T-point, Delhi Gate and Shanti Van Chowk.
Buses travelling towards the Red Fort from Delhi Gate and Daryaganj may be diverted towards Rajghat. Commuters travelling through the Old Delhi area have therefore been advised to allow additional time and check route conditions before starting their journey.
The advisory comes as several major Delhi corridors have also reported congestion. On Tuesday, traffic on Barapullah Phase 3 between Mayur Vihar and AIIMS remained affected for more than three kilometres from around 9 am until approximately 2 pm. The congestion reportedly continued despite corrective work on the upper curve of the Sundial Loop.
Traffic from the loop and Barapullah Phase 3 currently merges at a point where six incoming lanes narrow into three lanes. The merging arrangement has increased pressure at the junction, according to the report. A proposal to install traffic signals at the merging point is yet to be implemented.
The Public Works Department is also examining the possibility of constructing a U-turn on Ring Road opposite a gurdwara to improve local traffic movement. The proposal is intended to help vehicles travelling to and from nearby areas, but no implementation timeline has been reported.
Congestion was also reported on Ring Road and Vikas Marg on Tuesday. Traffic near Maharani Bagh slowed vehicles travelling from Sarai Kale Khan, while vehicles coming from the expressway and the DND towards Maharani Bagh were also affected. A heavy vehicle that broke down on the Sarai Kale Khan-Maharani Bagh route took more than two hours to remove, delaying the restoration of normal traffic.
Other reported trouble spots included Ashok Vihar, Keshavpuram, the route towards Inderlok Metro station, Bhera Enclave, Mahindra Park, Anand Parbat, Lahori Gate, Naya Bazaar and Khari Baoli Road. An ambulance was reportedly caught in congestion near the Keshavpuram-Inderlok route, prompting complaints on the traffic police’s social media handles about the absence of personnel.
The traffic restrictions linked to the padyatra are scheduled to remain in force from 3 pm to 5 pm on Wednesday, with the police advising commuters to avoid the Red Fort area and opt for public transport.
