Barricades, diversions and security restrictions turned key roads in Lutyens' Delhi into long stretches of slow-moving traffic on Tuesday, as the INDIA bloc's march towards the Election Commission disrupted movement across the New Delhi area.
From India Gate and Connaught Place to Parliament Street and Jantar Mantar, bumper-to-bumper traffic built up on several stretches, with vehicles inching forward amid diversions and intermittent stoppages.
At several points, long queues spilled back onto adjoining roads as motorists struggled to find alternate routes through the heavily barricaded area.
The congestion left commuters stranded for prolonged periods, with several saying they were stuck for at least an hour. Some commuters abandoned their vehicles and switched to the Metro or walked to reach destinations in central Delhi, while visuals showed vehicles packed tightly along stretches affected by the restrictions.
Traffic was severely affected on the Connaught Place, Patel Chowk, Rafi Marg, Parliament Street stretch, Motilal Nehru Marg, Teen Murti Marg, Prithviraj Road, Windsor Place, Ashoka Road, and Jantar Mantar Road.
"Traffic was moving at almost zero speed and the queue barely moved. We were stuck for nearly an hour before some of us decided to get down and take the Metro instead," a commuter stuck on Ashoka Road said.
{{/usCountry}}"Traffic was moving at almost zero speed and the queue barely moved. We were stuck for nearly an hour before some of us decided to get down and take the Metro instead," a commuter stuck on Ashoka Road said.
{{/usCountry}}Traffic was also affected across the New Delhi area, with movement hit on Krishna Menon Marg, Rajpath and Circular Road, while heavy congestion was reported at several roundabouts around India Gate. Another commuter reported a complete traffic jam from Mori Gate roundabout towards Hamilton Road and Pul Dufferin rail over bridge.
Another commuter said roads around India Gate were heavily congested, with restrictions and diversions on several routes making it difficult to move between adjoining areas.
"The entire road near the Taj and Marriott was blocked for VIP movement and thousands of vehicles were left stuck. There was heavy barricading and no easy way through," the commuter said.
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The police also said restrictions around the Taj and Marriott hotels were linked to VIP/VVIP movements and were imposed according to operational and security requirements.
"We understand the concern regarding traffic restrictions in the vicinity of Taj and Marriott hotels and the resulting congestion. Traffic regulation during VIP/VVIP movements is undertaken as per operational and security requirements and efforts are made to keep such restrictions need-based and for the minimum possible duration," the police said.
The disruption followed special traffic arrangements put in place from 8 am for the INDIA bloc march from Parliament Street to the EC headquarters to protest against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The Delhi Traffic Police said vehicular movement was being regulated or diverted on several key roads in and around Connaught Place, Patel Chowk, Parliament Street and Jantar Mantar.
Commuters have been advised to avoid unnecessary journeys through Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street, Ashoka Road and adjoining areas and expect diversions, barricading and congestion.
Traffic personnel remain deployed at critical points to manage diversions and ease congestion, with normal movement being restored progressively after the completion of the movements, police said.
The traffic restrictions came as INDIA bloc opposition MPs marched towards the EC headquarters, with heavy security and barricading deployed around Parliament and the poll panel's office ahead of the protest.
High drama unfolded during the march when Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with other MPs and supporters, attempted to proceed towards the EC office. They were stopped near the NITI Aayog office on Parliament Street.
The INDIA bloc has been opposing the SIR exercise and has raised concerns over the revision of electoral rolls, while the Election Commission has rejected allegations of a split among its three-member body and maintained that decisions on the exercise were taken unanimously.