Delhi chokes as kanwar yatra fervour peaks, decorated trucks block major roads

Kanwar Yatra

A large number of kanwariyas moving through Delhi on Tuesday caused massive traffic jams across the city, leaving many commuters stuck on the roads for hours. The situation became worse as the Kanwar Yatra reached its final days, with a sharp rise in the number of pilgrims, especially dak kanwars (devotees who travel in relay teams) and decorated trucks, blocking major roads, The Times of India reported.

According to the report, traffic has been extremely slow in many areas for the past two days, affecting people travelling both within the city and to nearby cities. One of the main reasons for the heavy traffic is the growing number of dak kanwars and trucks that carry large setups with loudspeakers and decorations.

These trucks often move slowly and in groups, taking up full lanes and leaving little space for other vehicles. In several places, kanwariyas also used footpaths and service lanes, making the roads even narrower for moving traffic.

On Monday, the DND Flyway, Ashram flyover, and stretches of Ring Road were choked through much of the day. Areas like Moolchand, AIIMS, Defence Colony and Ashram saw gridlock, while the Outer Ring Road and Mathura Road lit up red on traffic maps, indicating near-continuous congestion.

“I was stuck in Defence Colony for over an hour. There was no accident or breakdown, just slow-moving kanwar groups blocking the way,” TOI quoted one commuter as saying. Another person travelling from Noida to Ring Road added, “My car barely moved. It wasn’t even rush hour; it was afternoon.”

To manage the disruption, Delhi Traffic Police enforced restrictions and diversions on Monday and Tuesday. Commercial vehicles and buses were barred from using Yudhistir Setu (Tis Hazari to Shahdara) and Boulevard Road (ISBT Kashmiri Gate to Tis Hazari).

Similar restrictions were put in place on Lothian Road. At key junctions like Kashmiri Gate metro gate 5, ISBT Ring Road out gate, and GPO Chowk, traffic was diverted. Heavy vehicles were redirected to longer routes such as Yamuna Marg, Raj Niwas Marg, or NH-24 via Akshardham, which added more pressure to already crowded roads.

Even with more traffic police on duty and public advisories suggesting alternate routes, the large number of kanwariyas continued to slow things down. Officials believe traffic will slowly start improving by Wednesday as the Kanwar Yatra comes to an end.