Kanwar Yatra Diversions and Rain Cause Heavy Traffic Jams at Kalindi Kunj Border
Commuters travelling on the Noida-Delhi route via Kalindi Kunj and major border points faced extensive traffic jams on Tuesday as the movement of Kanwar pilgrims, traffic diversions, multiple spells of rain, and a rush of devotees heading to temples for Shivratri brought several key stretches to a standstill. Tuesday marked the fifth consecutive day of widespread traffic chaos across the region.
The worst gridlocks were reported on highways affected by restrictions to facilitate the movement of Kanwariyas, including the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and Grand Trunk Road connecting Uttar Pradesh with the Capital. Traffic officials noted that the disruption was further compounded by waterlogging, vehicle breakdowns, and faulty traffic signals across key corridors.
Border routes including the Noida-Delhi passage through Kalindi Kunj, as well as Ghaziabad-Delhi routes through Ghazipur, Maharajpur, UP Gate, Apsara, and Bhopura, were severely affected by restrictions. During morning peak hours, motorists crawled through serpentine jams stretching one to two kilometres, with heavy congestion spilling over onto alternate routes.
Motorists travelling from Indirapuram towards South Extension reported severe delays after the link to board the Delhi-Meerut Expressway from Ghaziabad was blocked using concrete barriers and blocks. Commuters were left with no option but to use the already crowded NH-9 and NH-24, with some taking nearly 40 minutes to cross a one-kilometre jam at the Ghazipur border.
The traffic chaos persisted despite the deployment of around 2,000 traffic personnel and multiple advisories issued by traffic police ahead of the Kanwar Yatra. The situation had been deteriorating since August 8 as pilgrim movement increased, worsening between Sunday and Tuesday as large numbers of pilgrims entered Delhi through Uttar Pradesh borders.
Roads surrounding major religious sites also witnessed heavy congestion due to Shivratri devotees. In south Delhi, traffic between Nehru Place and Modi Mill flyover near Kalkaji Temple was disrupted after a traffic signal remained non-functional for several hours. Congestion was also reported on CV Raman Marg in New Friends Colony near Mata Mandir and around Bhairav Temple near Pragati Maidan.
Commuters raised concerns regarding enforcement, alleging that pilgrims were seen using lanes earmarked for general traffic while police personnel along designated routes appeared unable to regulate the movement. Heavy traffic jams were also reported across south Delhi corridors, including Ring Road, Outer Ring Road, Mathura Road, Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, and Sardar Patel Marg.
