Traffic jams due to stir, Martyr’s Day restrictions

Traffic was affected on several key arterial roads across the city throughout Saturday due to the corporation workers’ protest as well as restrictions imposed to facilitate VIP movement on Martyr’s Day.

Traffic was affected on several key arterial roads across the city throughout Saturday due to the corporation workers’ protest as well as restrictions imposed to facilitate VIP movement on Martyr’s Day.

Traffic jam on the ITO Bridge on Saturday. (Sushil Kumar/HT Photo)

“It took me two hours to cover two kilometres from Okhla Phase 3 to Phase 1 enroute Jasola Sector 8,” said Manish Singh, a banker.

The corporation workers’ strike led by BJP leaders on Vikas Marg affected some of the critical stretches such as UP Link Road, Maharani Bagh, Mathura Road, Sarai Kale Khan, Pragati Maidan, ITO, etc.

Traffic was heavy on both carriageways of New Patparganj Road from Laxmi Nagar to Mother Dairy due to the protests.

A huge traffic jam was reported on Rani Jhansi Road, Panchkuian Road, Desh Bandhu Gupta Road, on Mehrauli Road from IIT flyover, and other important roads in central and south Delhi due to the strike.

The breakdown of five DTC buses, and two heavy vehicles in south Delhi further worsened the situation, said traffic cops.

Traffic restrictions were in place for VIP routes in central Delhi for the Prime Minister and other dignitaries to visit the Rajghat on Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary.

“Traffic was normal in those areas after VIP movements were over. Some areas in other parts of Delhi were affected due to sanitation workers strikes, but that too not very major,” said special commissioner of police (traffic) Muktesh Chander.

A prayer meeting in the evening around Gandhi Smiriti on Tees January Marg on the Mahatma’s death anniversary affected traffic for about two hours.