‘Rally ready’ Delhi sees massive traffic jams

CHAOS Commuters stuck in bottlenecks in central and eastern parts of the capital despite traffic police having issued guidelines ahead of the rally; dozens of roads remained clogged as late as 5pm

NEW DELHI: As supporters for a Ram temple in Ayodhya took to the streets in the national capital on Sunday, commuters across central and east Delhi faced a harrowing time with long traffic snarls and barricaded roads.

Although the traffic police had advertised guidelines ahead of the rally, many commuters were stuck in bottlenecks and many were confused as to which route to take to their destination.

For people to march to the venue, Delhi Traffic Police had completely stopped traffic on the Ranjeet Singh Flyover (from Guru Nanak Chowk to Barakhambha Road), JLN Marg (from Rajghat to Delhi Gate), Chaman Lal Marg near VIP gate.

The traffic snarls began in the morning as protesters made their way to the Ramlila Maidan. By afternoon, stretches upto south Delhi. Roads were clogged upto 5pm, almost three hours after the rally ended.

Traffic police officials manning the routes to the rally site said that the chaos was caused by buses carrying protesters parked on the sides of the roads.

“We had expected this, but despite guiding them to the designated parking spots, they parked on the roadsides of the protest ground,” said a traffic constable positioned at Asaf Ali Marg.

Commuters had a harrowing time while travelling in central Delhi too.

“It took me more than an hour just to cross stretch less than a kilometer long on Vikas Marg. Buses were parked on both sides of the road near the ITO ghat leading to a massive traffic jam in the area,” said Sunita, a resident of Noida.

Commuters complained that there were no officials to guide them.

“I have been going around the Ring Road (behind Red Fort) for over 30 minutes. They have blocked the entrance from Ajmeri Gate but there is no clear diversion to reach the New Delhi railway station,” said Praveen Khanna.

Despite claims of “elaborate arrangements” by the Delhi Traffic Police, bottlenecks were also witnessed around Asaf Ali Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Vikas Marg, Tilak Marg, Mandi House, India Gate roundabout, Mathura Road, Minto Road and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg.