Indore Traffic Diversions Implemented for Karbala Mela During Muharram Observance
The Indore city traffic police have issued a detailed diversion plan across multiple parts of the city in preparation for the annual Karbala Mela held during the religious observance of Muharram. With large gatherings expected on the day of the government Tazia procession, scheduled for Sunday afternoon, officials have made alternative arrangements to ensure public safety and smooth vehicular flow across major city arteries.
The Tazia procession is expected to commence at 2 PM from Imambada and traverse through central routes including Subhash Chowk, Rajwada, Prince Yeshwant Road, Machhi Bazaar, Pandrinath, Harsiddhi, Moti Tabela, and Collectorate Square, before culminating at the Karbala Ground near Dhobi Ghat. This extensive procession will heavily impact several parts of the city for the entire day, and city officials have urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel in these regions. Given the density of both human and vehicular movement in the area during Muharram, particularly for events like Karbala Mela, a carefully planned diversion system is being implemented for trucks, public buses, and private vehicles. The rerouting is designed to prevent congestion, ensure emergency services remain unhindered, and protect those participating in the religious ceremonies.
For heavy commercial vehicles including trucks and mini-trucks that normally ply between Transport Nagar and other city locations, the alternate path will now include Choithram Mandi Square, Rajendra Nagar Bridge, and Narmada Square. These vehicles will be connected to the Ring Road via these points, avoiding key procession areas entirely. Similarly, public buses and four-wheelers travelling between Bhanwarkuan and Tower Chouraha toward Mhow Naka Square will be rerouted via Tower Square, Palasia, Manikbag Bridge, Rajiv Gandhi Square, Rajendra Nagar, Utsav Hotel, Gopur Square, and Phuti Kothi. From there, they will reach their destinations at Mhow Naka and Gangwal Bus Stand. This ensures that public transport avoids sensitive zones where pedestrian footfall will be significantly high.
Heavy vehicles approaching from Gangwal and Mhow Naka towards Transport Nagar are directed to travel via Chandan Nagar and Phuti Kothi, continuing toward Utsav Hotel and Rajiv Gandhi Square. In the same way, vehicles from Palasia heading toward Mhow Naka, Annapurna, and Phuti Kothi must follow a route through Manikbag Bridge, then via Choithram Mandi and Kesarbagh Railway Crossing. As the procession progresses and Tazias reach the Karbala Ground, depending on real-time traffic conditions, further localized diversions will be enforced. For instance, private four-wheelers and two-wheelers moving toward Mhow Naka may be redirected through Hemu Colony, Harsiddhi, Machhi Bazaar, Yeshwant Road, and Raj Mohalla before reconnecting to Mhow Naka.
Likewise, vehicles originating from Annapurna Road and Phuti Kothi and heading toward Yeshwant Road may need to use the Gangwal Square, Bada Ganpati Square, and Subhash Marg route to avoid conflicts with religious activities. To decongest central intersections, vehicles from Bhanwarkuan and Tower Square heading toward Mhow Naka are advised to take the route through Old RTO Road, Kesarbagh Railway Crossing, and Choithram Square to eventually reach Tower Square and Bhanwarkuan safely.
City bus services, especially those traversing through Rajwada and Jawahar Marg, will be temporarily suspended after 11 AM. These buses will instead use Mrignayani and Subhash Marg routes to maintain connectivity without interfering with the processions. Authorities have requested bus commuters to plan their journeys accordingly and expect delays or re-routing. According to senior traffic officials, special mobile patrols and traffic management units will be deployed along all major junctions involved in the procession. These teams will guide vehicle operators, handle crowd control, and ensure that emergency services have unimpeded access to all parts of the city.
Citizens have been urged to use public transport where possible, avoid the restricted areas during peak procession hours, and strictly adhere to police instructions. The traffic department emphasized that these changes are temporary and part of necessary safety protocols observed annually during Muharram. They also thanked the public in advance for their cooperation and patience during the religious observance. Local residents along the affected stretches have also been advised to keep their vehicles parked away from procession routes and cooperate with the authorities for a peaceful and safe Mela. In previous years, unregulated vehicle movement and lack of adherence to traffic plans have resulted in bottlenecks and public safety concerns, prompting the police to take a more proactive and preemptive stance this year.
Indore has a history of large-scale Muharram events, and the Karbala Mela remains one of the most prominent gatherings during the Islamic lunar calendar in the region. The scale of the procession and crowd presence necessitate intricate planning, especially in densely populated zones like Rajwada and Jawahar Marg.
By enforcing a multilayered traffic plan and engaging with citizens early, the authorities hope to maintain order and uphold both religious sentiments and civic order.
