Lajpat Nagar and Sarojini Nagar get a footfall of thousands each day during the festive season

Shoppers splurging on clothes, gifts and other items ahead of Diwali, have been making a beeline to markets across the National Capital, the most popular ones include Lajpat Nagar and Sarojini Nagar in south Delhi. Lakhs arrive here as soon as the market opens around 11 am, and the footfalls continue till the closing time of 9 pm. Their cars, motorcycles, auto rickshaws, and taxis add a heavy load on the already busy roads leading to massive jams at all hours. There is also a possible threat to life in case a stampede like situation arises.

The markets of Sarojini Nagar and Lajpat Nagar are bustling with shoppers coming to buy for the festivities ahead. However, with vehicles including cars, motorcycles and autos the spaces become cramped leaving restricted movement.

It also leads to a potential threat to lives with stampede-like situations arising. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has amped up their security for the festivities and also in light of a blast near a Central Reserves Police Forces (CRPF) public school in Rohini Sector 14.

In Lajpat Nagar, one can see that there is no free flow of traffic as vehicles are parked on both sides of the road creating massive inconvenience to the public, despite a Delhi police booth right outside the market and heightened police patrolling.

People also fear that in a case of emergency, ambulances wouldn’t be available on time due to the jams and very limited space for the movement of vehicles.

A frustrated shopper said, “Whole Lajpat Nagar is facing huge traffic. People have parked their cars and vehicles here and there on the roads which are completely filled leaving little space for any movement. Why is the Delhi Police not taking any action? What if there is any emergency, how can even an ambulance reach?”

Another resident of the area claimed that selective restriction won’t work in the area while she blamed the mismanagement of traffic as a reason for such congestion near the market area. “Restriction on all sorts of vehicular movements shall be a solution, not selective ones. As a person who has lived in Lajpat Nagar, I can vouch for the fact that this situation stems from unscientific parking and poor traffic management,” she stated.

Similar situations also exist in Sarojini Nagar even as several auto-rickshaws create a menace on the road. “There is a traffic jam created by autos at Sarojini Nagar market entry opposite to the post office in Vinay nagar. Delhi Police, please send some traffic personnel who can manage the situation. If such a situation persists at the peak season, it can inevitably result in a scenario where people find it hard to move out despite an emergency,” a commuter said.

However, the Delhi Police told The Pioneer that the police have heightened its security and encroachments are also removed to make more space for the free flow of traffic as well as the shoppers to avoid any stampede like situation in the market.

In Sarojini Nagar, a police officer said there 30 local police personnel, 24 paramilitary officers and five machans in light of the security situation ahead of festivities. “We have carried out anti-encroachment drives as well to provide more spaces on the road and police officers are stationed on all the five entry and exit points in the market. In case of a medical emergency, there is a fire tender and ambulance stationed as well,” he added.