Day 3: Barricades slow central Delhi traffic after Opposition protests

Traffic in central Delhi was disrupted for a third consecutive day on Thursday. Heavy security deployment, barricading and a series of Delhi Traffic Police advisories accompanied the INDIA bloc’s protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Commuters were advised to avoid stretches around Rajghat, Kishan Ghat Road and Minto Road, and to use public transport.

Security was tightened from the morning around the Sansad Marg roundabout, the Election Commission office at Nirvachan Sadan and Jantar Mantar. On Thursday, Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita had been imposed in several parts of the capital. Delhi Police station house officers have been told to track buses headed towards the New Delhi district.

The first disruption came in Connaught Place on the first afternoon. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hosted Opposition MPs for lunch at Moets, and the gathering caused a major traffic jam in the area. Police deployed additional personnel in the market. The MPs then left for Rajghat in buses.

At about 1 pm, Delhi Traffic Police warned of possible congestion on Rajghat-Kishan Ghat Road and nearby stretches. The advisory said around 500 to 600 people, led by Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav, were expected to gather at Rajghat and proceed to Kishan Ghat Road for a dharna. Motorists were advised to avoid the area, use alternative routes via JLN Marg, Minto Road and Ajmeri Gate, follow directions from traffic personnel and park only in designated spaces.

A second advisory, posted on X by Delhi Traffic Police, covered JLN Marg, Minto Road and Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Marg. Traffic was likely to be affected between 1.30 pm and 3.30 pm because of a symbolic rally by women students of Zakir Hussain Delhi College. Commuters were asked to avoid the routes and plan journeys.

The MPs arrived at Rajghat in the late afternoon with thousands of supporters walking alongside them. Police personnel had been deployed at the memorial since the afternoon. The sit-in ended after about an hour.

The restrictions follow similar arrangements earlier in the week. On Tuesday, Delhi Traffic Police regulated and diverted traffic from 8 am around Connaught Place, Patel Chowk, Parliament Street, the GPO, Windsor Place, Ashoka Road and Jantar Mantar Road. The advisory asked commuters to avoid unnecessary travel through the area and prefer the Metro. On Wednesday, security stopped MPs’ buses on Ashoka Road, about 2 km from Jantar Mantar, and detained 91 people.

Central forces have also been added. The Union Home Ministry has approved 110 additional Central Armed Police Force companies for Delhi from October 8 to 12. That would take the central force presence in the capital to about 26,000 personnel.

More restrictions could follow. The Cockroach Janta Party and student groups have called a “Delhi Chalo” protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10.