With the festive rush during Diwali at its peak, Delhi experienced humongous traffic jams on several major roads on Thursday evening, stranding commuters for hours. With markets abuzz, shoppers crowding streets, and last-minute preparations underway in full force, Moolchand, ITO, Ashram, and Lajpat Nagar became bottlenecks of honking cars and crawling traffic.
Gridlock in Key Areas
As per reports, Moolchand Flyover and ITO junction — two of the busiest points in Delhi — were the worst hit. Social media was filled with commuters posting images of bumper-to-bumper traffic, lamenting delayed journeys and absence of traffic management.
Traffic was still heavy on Ring Road, Barapullah Flyover, and Mathura Road, where festival shoppers and inter-city travelers leaving the capital added to the mayhem. The Delhi Traffic Police asked citizens to stay away from non-essential travel and make use of public transport where appropriate.
Police Advisory and Public Frustration
The Delhi Traffic Police released advisories for multiple jammed stretches, such as AIIMS, Dhaula Kuan, Rajouri Garden, and Sarojini Nagar, all of which experienced high festive traffic. Evenings were cited as the reason by officers owing to more vehicular movement, parking problems around markets, and short-term diversions.
“Traffic is very heavy due to Diwali shopping and office rush hour. Please plan your travel accordingly,” the police tweeted on X.
Many commuters expressed frustration, with one user writing, “What should’ve taken 20 minutes took more than an hour — Delhi traffic is unbearable during festivals.”
Air Quality Adds to the Chaos
The situation was worsened by Delhi’s deteriorating air quality, as smog and vehicular emissions combined to create low visibility in several areas. The city’s AQI hovered in the ‘poor’ category, further amplifying public concern over pollution ahead of Diwali.
Environmentalists cautioned that extended traffic jams are a major source of short-term increases in emissions, calling for tighter crowd and vehicle management during the festive season.
Authorities on High Alert
Police authorities maintained that additional manpower has been stationed at major bottlenecks and near bazaars such as Connaught Place, Lajpat Nagar, Karol Bagh, and Chandni Chowk to handle the crowd and facilitate smooth vehicular movement.
As much as efforts are made, Delhiites are preparing for increased congestion this weekend, owing to Diwali celebrations and shopping expected to peak. The authorities continue to encourage citizens to use metro rails and forego personal vehicles during rush hours in a bid to minimize traffic and pollution in the capital.
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