Delhi-Meerut Expressway Jams Stretch from Noida Sector 62 to Dasna

Severe traffic congestion choked the Delhi-Meerut Expressway on Thursday evening, August 27, creating multi-kilometre tailbacks stretching from Noida Sector 62 to Dasna as thousands of people travelled for Raksha Bandhan.

The surge in festival-related travel to hometowns, combined with shoppers visiting local markets and regular evening commuters, led to vehicles being trapped in slow-moving traffic for five to six hours. Adjoining major routes linking Delhi, Ghaziabad, and the Noida-Greater Noida area also experienced heavy snarls.

Daily office-goers reported severe delays on their regular routes. Pushkar, a commuter travelling along the expressway, said covering a four-kilometre stretch took between 35 and 40 minutes, compared to the typical 10 to 15 minutes, as buses and travellers occupied three of the four lanes.

Near Chhijarsi, large crowds were stranded for hours waiting for public transport, with buses and other vehicles unable to navigate through the congestion to reach waiting passengers.

In response to the gridlock, Ghaziabad Police deployed personnel on the ground to manage vehicle movement and issued a dedicated traffic helpline number (9643322904). Police stated on social media that heavy festival traffic was being actively managed, particularly around high-pressure areas such as Lal Kuan.

Authorities noted alternate routes to bypass the congestion, including taking connectors before Dasna onto the Eastern Peripheral Expressway for those travelling toward Meerut, or using the old National Highway through Muradnagar and Modinagar. Additionally, the NCRTC operated 47 extra Namo Bharat train trips between Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi and Modipuram in Meerut to help alleviate passenger rush.