AoL concert, marriages choke Capital, rain plays spoilsport too

Delhi-NCR witnessed unprecedented traffic congestion on Friday due to mega events coupled with some 20,000 marriages happening in the city. The scenario worsened with a surprise spell of thundershowers in the afternoon. 

Lakhs of visitors attending the World Culture Festival got caught in the chock-a-block situation in and around Mayur Vihar area along with the nearby areas. As a result, commuters were stuck in traffic for more than two-three  hours. 

Traffic moved at snail’s pace on the following roads — Ring Road stretch in South Delhi, Noida Link Road, NH-24, areas near Akshardham, Nizamuddin, Mayur Vihar, Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, Ashram Chowk, Aurobindo Marg, DND flyway, Mahipalpur Chowk and Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road — all considered major arteries and intersections in South and East Delhi respectively.

Because of this, the connecting roads were also affected and traffic jams were witnessed there also. These roads include Nehru Place, Okhla, Greater Kailash, Preet Vihar, Sarita Vihar, Kalindi Kunj, Geeta Colony, Seelampur and Welcome.

Even the traffic helplines of Delhi Police remained busy since Friday evening as the commuters who were stuck in jams were making frantic calls to the department seeking assistance. “Art of Living was supposed to calm down people and enable them to experience peace. Instead, it has caused major traffic jams, frayed tempers, increased pollution and delayed meetings,” said Surbhi Sondhi, who was stuck at Nizzamudin Bridge for more than two hours.

Apart from the Sri Sri event, maximum number of marriages are taking place on Friday coupled with the rain that has added to the problems that the commuters were facing with traffic jams being reported from every nook and corner of the national Capital.

More than 2,500 traffic cops were deployed on the roads where traffic jams were expected, but to no avail. 

Similar traffic jams will be witnessed on Saturday and Sunday as well as a result of which senior traffic cops have advised to avoid nearby areas of the venue and the connecting roads.