Traffic jams in South, Central Delhi as key intersections closed

NEWDELHI: As protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) intensified across the national capital, traffic in several parts of central, northeast, south and Old Delhi was severely hit on Friday evening. The most severely hit was Central and New Delhi area.

Roads around Daryaganj and Netaji Subash Marg were closed in the evening after protesters turned violent and pelted stones at police personnel.

Delhi Traffic Police officials said roads were closed for traffic movement on Friday afternoon, when demonstrators marched in central and Old Delhi. This caused the traffic to spill over to adjacent roads, causing long traffic snarls.

Traffic on Mandi House towards ITO was closed for traffic movement around 6.30pm — after the clashes outside Daryaganj police station, crippling the peak evening traffic.

The roads most affected by the traffic diversion was Bhagwan Dass Road, Tilak Marg, India Gate roundabout, Pragati Maidan,

Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, Minto Road, Asaf Ali Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Netaji Subhash Marg and Vikas Marg.

This was the fifth day that radial roads around Mathura Road were closed for traffic movement, with the traffic police apprehensive of protesters flooding onto the roads from neighbouring areas.

However, the diversion of traffic led to vehicles flooding onto Mathura Road and clogging the Ashram intersection. Delhi-Noida-Direct Flyway, New Friends Colony, Nizamuddin, Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, Ring Road near South Extension, Noida Link Road, Kalindi Kunj Road and Lodi Road were affected by traffic diversions.

In east Delhi, areas around Maujpur Chowk were also hit by traffic.

Several commuters complained that lack of traffic police officers officials on the ground worsened the situation and created confusion.

“Central Delhi has turned into a fortress. There is no way to get out. Stuck at India Gate for over 30 minutes now,” tweeted Preetha Shaji, a commuter.