Commuters faced a tough time battling massive traffic jams throughout the day on Wednesday. Since it was a holiday, large numbers of people flocked at market areas to buy gifts or goodies — which in turn led to traffic snarls.
Scores of people thronged popular places such as Connaught Place, Select Citywalk Mall in Saket and other malls in Vasant Vihar. Most jams were triggered due to parking lots in Central Delhi as well as at other places being packed and people parking their vehicles on the roads. Motorists faced a harrowing time on the BRT Corridor between Chirag Dilli and Khanpur as the crowd spilled from Saket triggering congestion.
Despite traffic police issuing advisories, scores of people thronged the malls and other popular shopping places in the city. South Delhi was the worst-hit with people thronging malls in Saket and Vasant Vihar. "The underground parking of District Centre, Saket was full and commuters were requested not to park on the roads, blocking traffic. Bus Rapid Corridor between Chirag Delhi, Khanpur and Press Enclave Road to Malviya Nagar Metro Station were jam-packed," said a traffic police official.
Those who came to visit the malls at Saket got caught in a major traffic jam. "It took me an hour to reach Select Citywalk Mall from GK-I. The entire BRT stretch and Press Enclave Road leading to the mall was packed due to traffic. Motorists had parked on the road blocking the carriageway triggering traffic jams," said Nishtha Sharma, a software engineer.
Commuters also complained that the Connaught Place circles witnessed huge traffic snarl due to the festive rush. Jams were also witnessed at Convent of Jesus and Mary leading to the blockade at Baba Kharag Singh Marg and Mandi House to ITO.
"Press Enclave Road was packed due to Christmas rush. Visitors to Saket Malls were advised to take the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road," said the traffic police post on Facebook.