Hyundai Pride of India

An exclusive sneak peek at some of Delhi’s most famous monuments in lockdown

At the beginning of the year if someone had told you that three months into 2020 we’d all be locked up in our homes away from our offices, our friends and family thanks to a deadly virus exposure to which could potentially be fatal, you’d have laughed it off, possibly even directing that particular individual to the nearest shrink. Fast forward a few months and that is exactly what transpired with the entire world locked up in a matter to weeks waiting, fighting to overcome this invisible villain. Coronavirus, COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 has brought our life as we’ve known it to a screeching halt leaving the streets nearly empty and offices, malls, markets, restaurants and multiplexes deserted with hospitals operating at maximum capacity trying to contain the evil unleashed by the virus. Delhi, our national capital and the Pride of India, which under normal circumstances is bustling with activity, roads packed with vehicles, with people, tells a similar story. Think Gotham from The ongoing lockdown though afforded us the opportunity to head out and experience Delhi at ease without the usual chaos that accompanies the city’s most famous roads, iconic monuments and tourist hotspots.

Masks on and necessary permissions obtained, we set out with the all-new Hyundai Creta towards Signature Bridge that spans the Yamuna connecting Wazirabad to East Delhi. Even for an early weekday morning, seeing the roads as empty as they were was a strange sight indeed. Refreshing, but strange nevertheless. There were some vehicles, of course. Not everyone in the city gets to lie to their bosses about diligently working from home while focussing on the latest Netflix has to offer. Police personnel, government officials and our heroic healthcare workers are all out there working overtime to ensure you and I get through this and normalcy returns at the earliest. People engaged in delivering essential goods and services and their vehicles were there for company as well. Along the way we crossed several check posts manned by police personnel with the unenviable job of ensuring vehicular movement adheres to lockdown guidelines put in place by the government to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

While construction of the Signature Bridge started back in 2010, several delays along the way meant that it wasn’t until November

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IF SOMEONE HAD TOLD YOU THAT

THREE MONTHS INTO 2020 WE’D ALL BE LOCKED UP IN OUR

HOMES TO AVOID EXPOSURE TO A DEADLY

VIRUS YOU’D HAVE LAUGHED IT

OFF