Raksha Bandhan Rush Causes Massive Traffic Jams Across Delhi-NCR Routes
Key traffic corridors across Delhi-NCR, including Kalindi Kunj, MB Road in Chhatarpur, the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, and the Akshardham stretch, witnessed massive traffic jams on Friday as festive travel for Raksha Bandhan triggered a surge in vehicular movement.
Long queues of vehicles built up across several critical stretches throughout the day. In South Delhi, kilometres of bumper-to-bumper traffic choked MB Road in Chhatarpur. At the Lado Sarai Old MB Road traffic signal, commuters reported that buses were violating traffic rules by jumping red lights and obstructing pedestrians attempting to cross at zebra crossings.
The Delhi-Meerut Expressway saw particularly heavy traffic flow, which continued for several hours without relief. Slow-moving traffic was compounded by the extended festival weekend, prompting traffic teams to step in to regulate the dense movement of vehicles.
Heavy congestion was also recorded along the key Sarai Kale Khan route, while stretches around Pragati Maidan and Akshardham witnessed slow vehicular speeds. Commuters heading through Kalindi Kunj encountered major bottlenecks, raising concerns over recurring congestion in the area. Additionally, slow movement was reported on the Delhi-Saharanpur Highway near Geeta Colony Road due to the heightened festival traffic.
To address the situation, Delhi Traffic Police stepped up deployments across vital transit points. Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Vijyanta Arya stated that personnel were placed at interstate borders experiencing heavy movement in and out of Delhi, as well as high-footfall areas near busy markets and metro stations.
The traffic department had earlier issued an advisory for August 27 and 28, warning commuters of increased congestion near Anand Vihar ISBT, Road No. 56, NH-9, and Vikas Marg, urging motorists to opt for alternative routes.
Alongside gridlock on the roads, the Delhi Metro recorded a significant surge in passenger volume as residents travelled across the city to celebrate Raksha Bandhan over the weekend.
