Delhi traffic came to a standstill across central Delhi on Monday after a Congress-led INDIA bloc march to the Supreme Court blocked Barakhamba Road and triggered congestion on several adjoining routes. The disruption affected commuters around Connaught Place, Mandi House, India Gate and other key stretches, while Delhi Traffic Police advised motorists to use Kasturba Gandhi Marg and Mathura Road.
Barricades were placed near Statesman House on Barakhamba Road as the gathering expanded around the Connaught Place-Barakhamba Road junction. Crowds occupied the carriageway, leaving little room for vehicles to pass. Supporters were seen waving party flags from buses, while others sat on the road as slogans continued along the stretch.
The blockage quickly affected roads beyond the immediate protest site. The stretch between Connaught Place and Mandi House was heavily congested, with all six connecting roads reporting traffic pressure. Sikandra Road and Bhagwan Das Road were among the affected routes, while Tilak Marg also experienced congestion.
The traffic impact extended to KG Marg as motorists attempted to avoid Barakhamba Road. Delhi Traffic Police issued an alert stating that traffic was affected on Copernicus Marg, Tilak Marg and C-Hexagon near India Gate. The police recommended Kasturba Gandhi Marg and Mathura Road as alternative routes for commuters.
The disruption also produced delays around central Delhi’s dense network of connecting roads. Barakhamba Road is an important link between Connaught Place and the wider central Delhi road system, meaning that a complete or near-complete occupation of the carriageway quickly pushed vehicles onto already busy adjoining routes.
Commuters shared warnings online as the crowds grew. One social media user said Barakhamba Road was effectively occupied and advised people to avoid the area, while another reported major crowding and traffic disruption in central Delhi. A further post criticised both the political mobilisation and traffic management, saying commuters had been left suffering for hours.
The incident highlights the operational challenge of managing large political gatherings in a tightly connected central-city road network. When one major carriageway is blocked, traffic can spread rapidly to nearby roads, particularly where alternative routes converge around Connaught Place, Mandi House and India Gate.
Delhi Traffic Police’s immediate response was to issue route information and direct motorists towards Kasturba Gandhi Marg and Mathura Road. The advisory covered the affected stretches around Copernicus Marg, Tilak Marg and C-Hexagon, while congestion continued on roads surrounding the march route.
