With Diwali just around the corner, the festive fervor has led to a surge in shoppers visiting markets across India. This increased activity has unfortunately resulted in substantial traffic jams in major metropolitan areas, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. On Friday evening, key routes in Delhi experienced heavy congestion, mirroring the situation in other large cities.
Delhi’s Traffic Woes Intensify
In Delhi, areas such as Sikandra Road, Bhikaji Cama Place, Moolchand Flyover, ITO, and Moti Bagh were particularly affected by traffic snarls. The Delhi-Gurugram Expressway also saw extensive jams, with popular shopping destinations like Lajpat Nagar and Chandni Chowk contributing to the gridlock. This festive season has been marked by ongoing traffic challenges in the capital, prompting political commentary on the city’s infrastructure.
Delhi Traffic Police have advised citizens to check advisories before embarking on their journeys to minimize inconvenience. The traffic disruptions are not isolated to Delhi; Mumbai and Bengaluru are also grappling with similar issues, impacting commuters across these urban centers.
Interestingly, a specific traffic advisory was issued for Delhi on Saturday, the day of Dhanteras, not solely due to Diwali shopping but also in anticipation of a large concert at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, expecting tens of thousands of attendees.
Bengaluru’s Commuting Nightmares Continue
Bengaluru residents have been vocal on social media about their daily commuting ordeals. Reports suggest that navigating the Outer Ring Road (ORR) will remain challenging for at least the next two weeks, with traffic police indicating severe congestion. A recent incident involving a broken-down bus near Ecospace Junction caused a multi-kilometer jam, leading to delays of up to two hours for short distances.
Furthermore, the closure of Panathur Road, a crucial link between Varthur and Marathahalli, has exacerbated traffic issues in the eastern parts of the city. Ongoing infrastructure projects, such as white-topping and metro construction, have also led to road closures and deteriorated road conditions in areas like Varthur-Sarjapura Road, contributing to accidents due to poor road quality.
Mumbai Faces Holiday Gridlock
Mumbai is also experiencing significant traffic disruptions as the Diwali festival approaches. Roads from the Western Express Highway (WEH) to Dadar TT Circle are reportedly blocked for kilometers. Social media posts highlight widespread jams across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, affecting commutes from western and central suburbs to areas like Thane, Shilphata, and Kalyan.
Diwali, celebrated as the festival of lights, symbolizes the victory of good over evil and is a major festival in India, scheduled this year for October 20-21.