When busy main roads are frequently restricted, heavy traffic gets heavier

Central Delhi is the worst affected by the perennial problem of ‘VIP movement’ where busy main roads are frequently restricted for the general public to allow various events, politicians and dignitaries to move in a secure manner. On Tuesday, the markets were catering to a sea of people buying goods, especially jewellery, for Dhanteras, and traffic restrictions were in place since the morning hours due to the ‘Run For Unity’ event, leading many to divert from their usual route and taking extra long to reach their destinations.

Restrictions for the ‘Run For Unity’, organised to celebrate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary, were effective around India Gate, C-Hexagon from 6.45 am till the completion of the event. The Delhi Traffic police said, “Special traffic arrangements have been made in view of ‘Run For Unity’ from Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on October 29, 2024 in celebration of #RashtriyaEktaDiwas.”

The police announced diversions have been announced in Tilak Marg-Bhagwan Dass Road Crossing, Purana Quila Road-Mathura Road Crossing, Shershah Road-Mathura Road Crossing, Dr. Zakir Hussain Marg-Subramanian Bharti Marg Crossing, Pandara Road-Subramanian Bharti Marg Crossing, roundabout Mansingh Road, roundabout Jaswant Singh Road, K.G Marg-Firozshah Road Crossing and roundabout Mandi House.

With the already existing problems that commuters face including construction works that make the roads narrower, frequent breakdown of buses, illegal parkings that cramp up roads and restrict the free flow of traffic, public shared that such restrictions make their commute even more difficult especially in the morning hours when there is rush of office goers on the roads.

“I left my home at 11 am, planning for a quick 25-minute trip to the office. But of course, Delhi’s infamous traffic had other ideas. Here I am, stuck in gridlock in Central Delhi, likely to arrive just in time to see my colleagues return from their assignments. Perfect timing, as always!” a media professional said.

These diversions not just affect the people only travelling in Central Delhi but all over the city. A commuter shared that he was stuck in traffic for about half an hour due to VIP movement. “Traffic is stopped for the last 25 to 30 minutes on Badarpur flyover towards Delhi because of VIP movement. Can’t what type of system is there as even ambulances are stuck,” he said.

n Central Delhi areas like ITO, Bengali Market, Connaught Place, and Mandi house, where people have come out in large numbers to shop and celebrate the festival, a similar situation  prevailed. A commuter said, “Crucial time is being wasted at the ITO red light. An ambulance screeching sirens is falling on deaf ears of traffic personnel.”

About 7,700 people took part in the ‘Run for Unity’, which began from Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium according to the traffic advisory issued for the Delhi Traffic Police.