New Delhi: With pollution restrictions on non-compliant vehicles affecting movement at the borders and shoppers adding to the regular rush ahead of Diwali, Delhi Traffic Police is facing a double test. Anticipating a surge in pedestrian and vehicular movement over the next few days, it has put the city’s major shopping districts and public transport hubs on the priority list.Last-minute purchases have already pushed traffic volumes up around major markets — Sarojini Nagar, South Extension, Lajpat Nagar, Karol Bagh, Kamla Nagar, Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar and Rajouri Garden — choking several stretches with vehicles and commuters crawling through long queues. Congestion is also being reported around Kashmere Gate, Hauz Khas and Defence Colony.The Barapullah corridor, particularly the stretch between AIIMS and Sarai Kale Khan, has emerged as another pressure point, with commuters reporting prolonged delays.The festive rush, combined with the regular evening peak-hour traffic, put several arterial roads under pressure Wednesday. Around 4pm, commuters were stuck for nearly one-and-a-half hours while going to central Noida from central Delhi, a journey that usually takes around 40 minutes. Mathura Road and ITO also witnessed heavy congestion.Anand Vihar ISBT saw heavy movement of passengers due to the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja, with congestion reported from Seemapuri towards the area.Frustrated commuters shared their experiences on social media. One user posted, “Travelling from Delhi’s Dwarka to Noida and it’s been over five hours and counting! What a frustrating commute!”Another tagged Delhi Traffic Police on X, writing, “Where have you all guys gone, @dtptraffic? It’s all traffic chaos all over Delhi. It’s the festive season, which calls for more deployments. Be on the roads and at congestion points.”Traffic officials said they had already held meetings with market and resident welfare associations to explain the arrangements for the festive period and seek their cooperation.Additional CP (traffic zone II) Dinesh Kumar Gupta said direction signboards, traffic information boards and public advisories had been put up at strategic locations. Traffic personnel, sentinels and volunteers from market associations have been deployed to regulate vehicles, facilitate pedestrian movement and prevent unauthorised parking.Police have urged shoppers to plan their visits and use metro or other public transport wherever possible. They have been advised to park only in designated facilities, avoid roadside pick-ups and drop-offs, follow diversions and use pedestrian crossings and footpaths. Commuters can check traffic updates through Delhi Traffic Police’s official social media platforms, Gupta added.Additional CP (traffic zone I) Vijayanta Goyal Arya said arrangements had been stepped up around public transport hubs, including New Delhi and Old Delhi stations and Kashmere Gate and Anand Vihar ISBTs. Additional personnel are being deployed at key intersections and vulnerable stretches.Arya said vehicles parked indiscriminately reduce available road space and worsen congestion. While police are taking action, she stressed that enforcement alone could not keep traffic moving and shoppers must also use designated parking spaces and follow traffic instructions.A total of 203 traffic personnel will be stationed across ISBT Kashmere Gate, Old Delhi station and the Ajmeri Gate and Paharganj sides of New Delhi station in three shifts. Of them, 82 will be deployed in the morning shift, 83 in the afternoon and 38 in the evening shift. Old Delhi station will have the highest deployment, with 76 personnel, followed by NDLS Ajmeri Gate (60), ISBT Kashmere Gate (40) and NDLS Paharganj (27).Another 172 personnel will be deployed at Anand Vihar ISBT and railway station areas from Nov 6 to 15.
