Delhi witnessed huge traffic snarls at various locations due to the gala cultural event organised by Sri Sari Ravishankar’s Art of living Foundation on Friday on Yamuna riverbed. Traffic movements were impacted for hours in the NH-24, Vikas Marg, Geeta Colony Bridge, Nizamuddin Bridge, Kalindi Bridge, Mayur Vihar.
Apparently, the day also had lot of wedding celebrations which again halted the vehicular movement. Entire South Delhi area was jammed for many hours. The roads that were affected owing to the two big religious events -World Culture Festival (WCF) and congregation of Radha Soami Satsang Beas at Mehrauli - included, Ring Road stretch in south Delhi, Noida link Road, the NH-24, areas near Akshardham, Mayur Vihar, Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, Ashram Chowk, Aurobindo Marg, Mahipalpur Chowk and Mehrauli-Gurgaon road, all considered major arteries and intersections in South and East Delhi.
Anticipating heavy movement of traffic owing to mega events and over 20,000 marriages across the city, the Delhi Police on Friday deployed around 4,000 personnel for traffic management.
The traffic scenario is expected to remain the same for the next three days. Initially, around 1,700 officials were deployed for traffic management for the WCF and around 300 were reserved for the other events to be held during the same time (Mar 11-13).
Arrangements were also made in areas which have large number of farmhouses, taken on rent for marriages, and banquet halls.
later, the numbers were doubled, an official said.
“People should preferably take public transport to commute and avoid the Noida link Road, NH-24 and the Ring Road stretch from the point of intersection with Bhairon Marg till the mouth of the DND Flyway. Congestion can be expected on these stretches between 12 noon and 11 PM till Sunday,” the official said.
The official said those approaching from the trans-Yamuna side towards central Delhi, should use the ITO Road as Akshardham and NH-24 will also be congested. Commuters from Noida heading towards Delhi should take the DND flyover as traffic on the Noida link Road is expected to be heavy during the event, he said.
For the event by the Radha Soami Satsang Beas at south Delhi’s Fatehpur Beri area, traffic will be heavy near Bhati Mines, Andheria More, Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road, Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, especially the stretch between lado Sarai and Khanpur, and the road near IIT-Delhi.