‘Crazy traffic madness...’: Delhi’s traffic woes continue

Traffic around central and south Delhi slowed down on Friday morning on account of several VIP movements and security arrangements put in place for transporting underworld gangster Chhota Rajan, who was deported by Indonesia, from Palam to Lodhi Colony.

Major roads of Delhi continued to choke on traffic snarls on Friday evening, just like they did in the morning when traffic slowed down due to VIP movement and security arrangements for transporting underworld gangster Chhota Rajan.

Traffic jam at APJ Abdul Kalam Road in New Delhi. (Sonu Mehta/HT Photo)

Commuters took to social media to write about and post pictures of the traffic jam on central and south Delhi roads, including Max Mueller Marg, Lodhi road, and near India Gate, ITO and Race Course.

Rajan, who was deported from Indonesia on Thursday, was transported from Palam to CBI headquarters in Lodhi Colony in the early hours of Friday.

Adding to the traffic woes, roads around Race Course, India Gate and Central Secretariat remained closed in the morning as Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and other VIPs travelled around the area to attend the day-long Delhi Economic Conclave at Vigyan Bhawan.

From 9:30am, roads around Pragati Maidan, ITO and Rajghat also remained closed in phases for the Chinese vice- premier’s visit to the Rajghat.

Vehicles around the India Gate roundabout were stopped for over 30 minutes and massive jams followed.

Traffic was also disrupted at Lodhi Colony because of the heavy security that was put in place outside the CBI headquarters for Rajan who was brought from Palam’s air force station to the building in a bulletproof car.

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The roads around the agency’s headquarters have been barricaded, with armed security men inside and outside the campus, virtually turning it into a fortress.

Almost every passing vehicles stopped near the building wanting to catch a glimpse of the extradited underworld gangster Chota Rajan. Media vehicles parked outside added to the trouble.

The CBI headquarters has been secured from outside by armed CISF personnel and Delhi Police commandos have been posted inside to avert any attack and act accordingly. Traffic police personnel were also spotted on the road along with PCR vans outside.

Police sources said that Rajan would be taken to either All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) or Safdarjung Hospital for a medical examination. Rajan is learnt to be suffering from a kidney ailment and was on dialysis at the time of his arrest. The special cell of Delhi Police has kept two bullet proof vans on standby to transfer him.

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