Traffic snarls grip Capital as key roads shut for Kanwar Yatra

The national capital witnessed traffic congestion at several points on Tuesday due to the partial or complete closure of key roads, including GT Road. The Kashmere Gate Inter-State Bus Terminal — a critical junction connecting various parts of Delhi — was among the worst affected.

Adding to the traffic woes, several Kanwariyas were seen flouting road safety norms by riding motorcycles without helmets and speeding on stretches reserved for the Kanwar Yatra.

Kashmere Gate, a major transit point for commuters from east and northeast Delhi heading towards north, west and central Delhi, bore the brunt of the road closures. The convergence of multiple blocked routes at this junction caused massive gridlocks, especially on the Outer Ring Road, leaving commuters stuck for long durations in their vehicles.

In light of the increased movement of Kanwarias, the Delhi Police issued an advisory noting partial restrictions on Yudhister Setu (used by commuters from east Delhi) and Boulevard Road (connecting to Civil Lines) for commercial vehicles. This led to a ripple effect, causing congestion on the route to Civil Lines, stretching up to the Rani Jhansi Flyover.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Abhishek Dhania said a large deployment of personnel, backed by drone surveillance, was in place to manage traffic and ensure public safety.

In total, over 5,000 Delhi Police personnel, along with nearly 50 companies of paramilitary forces — over 5,000 personnel — have been deployed across sensitive zones in the city, another official confirmed.

Addressing traffic violations, the police stated that erring commuters would be fined through traffic cameras, and that multiple checkpoints had been set up to monitor compliance. However, no significant incident involving Kanwariyas has been reported so far.

Meanwhile, another official said the police had received around 250 complaints, mostly regarding loud DJ music being played in residential areas near the Noida-Delhi border. Quick-response teams were dispatched to these locations, and the loud music was stopped.

Delhi serves as a vital junction on the Kanwar route, acting as a gateway to Uttarakhand for pilgrims from Haryana and Rajasthan. Major routes of the yatra passing through or skirting the city include GT Road (NH-44) — used by Kanwariyas from Haryana — as well as Agra Canal Road and Mathura Road (NH-19), which cater to pilgrims from Rajasthan, parts of Uttar Pradesh and Delhi-NCR.

Delhi