MillenniumPost
Delhi

City witnesses massive traffic jams due to restrictions for Summit

Delhiites faced a tough time and huge congestions brought traffic to a standstill on Thursday from morning till late evening as National Highway 24 wore a chock-a-block look from Nizzamuddin Bridge to Akshardham Temple Complex. The major reason — Delhi Traffic Police’s diversion plans for India-Africa Forum Summit-2015. Traffic from Lutyens’ Zone and other major parts of New Delhi district and Central district was diverted to NH-24, Trans-Yamuna, Baba Kharak Singh Marg and Connaught Place.

Commuters moving from South-East Delhi or vice versa were bound to take the Nizamuddin Bridge, NH-24, Pusta Road, Geeta Colony as the movement of vehicles were prohibited on the Ring Road. Long traffic snarls were noticed on Geeta Colony flyover and Pusta Road. The traffic movement was heavy near Akhshardham complex too.

The prohibition on Ring Road, Mathura Road, India Gate was from 8 am to 10 am in the morning and 4 pm to 11 pm. “I got stuck in the traffic near Ashram flyover in the evening and was delayed in reaching an important meeting. To avoid the traffic, I had to take shortcuts,” Arpit Saxena, an executive, posted on Facebook.

Another commuter, Robin, a teacher in a government school, posted on Facebook: “I left for my home in Noida from Connaught Place around 5 pm and got stuck near Pragati Maidan for 45 minutes.”

Heavy traffic was seen near Dhaula Kuan as traffic was prohibited on Sardar Patel Marg and commuters were bound to take Upper Ridge Road resulting in massive congestions. 

Similarly, the traffic was diverted from Aurbindo Marg to Africa Venue Road and Bhisham Pitama Marg as a result of which commuters got stuck at Lodhi Road and Safdarjung flyover. Though heavy traffic police deployment was there but commuters tried to take short cuts and no one ended up actually following lane driving, leading to jams.

Areas including Connaught Place, India Gate C-Hexagon, Talkatora Road, areas around Rashtrapati Bhavan and Barakhamba Road witnessed long tail-ends on-and-off during the day. The ITO junction, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, the Mathura Road stretch near Pragati Maidan and Kashmere Gate-Daryaganj stretch were among other areas that witnessed heavy traffic.

The traffic helpline of Delhi Police was bombarded with phone calls as people kept asking about diversions in view of the traffic arrangement strategised for the high-security event, the official said.
Next Story
Share it