Massive traffic jams in central Delhi as NEET protest curbs shut 17 Metro stations
Security curbs around the Jantar Mantar protest paralysed central Delhi traffic and Metro services. The second day of restrictions stranded commuters and forced Connaught Place businesses to shut early.
Traffic across central Delhi was badly hit on Thursday as security restrictions around a protest at Jantar Mantar and the closure of 17 Metro stations left commuters stranded for hours. Many office-goers were forced to take longer and costlier routes as key roads were barricaded and public transport came under added pressure.
The disruption, which continued for a second straight day, affected both road and Metro travel and also spilled over to commercial activity in Connaught Place. Police advised people to avoid unnecessary travel to the New Delhi area, while traders in Connaught Place were asked to shut shops, offices and restaurants by 6:30 pm.
Traffic snarls were reported on major roads in New Delhi as police tightened security arrangements in view of the protest. Several travellers complained of slow-moving traffic on Parliament Marg, Tolstoy Marg, the Connaught Place Outer Circle, Patel Chowk, India Gate Circle, DDU Marg and Minto Road, among other routes. Restrictions also affected traffic near the ITO tunnel, where motorists reported long queues after part of the road was barricaded.
"I usually travel from Noida via Vikas Marg to Mandi House. On a normal day, it takes about 45 minutes, but today it took me over 1.5 hours," a commuter said. Another commuter wrote on social media, "About 1.5 km of the Noida-Delhi highway is jammed. The traffic police could have issued a public advisory, especially for office commuters, before barricading half the road near the ITO tunnel."
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said 17 stations were shut until further instructions. The measure, taken for the second consecutive day, pushed office-goers and other passengers to depend on buses, auto-rickshaws and cabs. Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhamba Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh, Shivaji Stadium and Jhandewalan stations did not open on Thursday.
A commuter said the closure added at least 45 minutes to an already nearly 40-minute journey. The restrictions led to crowded buses, longer waits for public transport and higher demand for autos and cabs.
Several commuters said they had to take circuitous routes to reach their offices and homes, and the traffic situation worsened in the evening as offices closed. Traffic police diverted vehicles through alternative routes from busier stretches.
The disruption also affected businesses in Connaught Place. The New Delhi Traders Association issued an advisory asking shops, offices and restaurants in the area to close by 6:30 pm on Thursday. The traders' body said the decision followed telephonic advice from the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the New Delhi Municipal Council, who had asked commercial establishments to shut for the day.
The Cockroach Janta Party has been holding a protest for over a month at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities and paper leaks. On Thursday, the protest and the resulting restrictions disrupted road, Metro and business activity across central Delhi.
Traffic across central Delhi was badly hit on Thursday as security restrictions around a protest at Jantar Mantar and the closure of 17 Metro stations left commuters stranded for hours. Many office-goers were forced to take longer and costlier routes as key roads were barricaded and public transport came under added pressure.
The disruption, which continued for a second straight day, affected both road and Metro travel and also spilled over to commercial activity in Connaught Place. Police advised people to avoid unnecessary travel to the New Delhi area, while traders in Connaught Place were asked to shut shops, offices and restaurants by 6:30 pm.
Traffic snarls were reported on major roads in New Delhi as police tightened security arrangements in view of the protest. Several travellers complained of slow-moving traffic on Parliament Marg, Tolstoy Marg, the Connaught Place Outer Circle, Patel Chowk, India Gate Circle, DDU Marg and Minto Road, among other routes. Restrictions also affected traffic near the ITO tunnel, where motorists reported long queues after part of the road was barricaded.
"I usually travel from Noida via Vikas Marg to Mandi House. On a normal day, it takes about 45 minutes, but today it took me over 1.5 hours," a commuter said. Another commuter wrote on social media, "About 1.5 km of the Noida-Delhi highway is jammed. The traffic police could have issued a public advisory, especially for office commuters, before barricading half the road near the ITO tunnel."
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said 17 stations were shut until further instructions. The measure, taken for the second consecutive day, pushed office-goers and other passengers to depend on buses, auto-rickshaws and cabs. Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhamba Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh, Shivaji Stadium and Jhandewalan stations did not open on Thursday.
A commuter said the closure added at least 45 minutes to an already nearly 40-minute journey. The restrictions led to crowded buses, longer waits for public transport and higher demand for autos and cabs.
Several commuters said they had to take circuitous routes to reach their offices and homes, and the traffic situation worsened in the evening as offices closed. Traffic police diverted vehicles through alternative routes from busier stretches.
The disruption also affected businesses in Connaught Place. The New Delhi Traders Association issued an advisory asking shops, offices and restaurants in the area to close by 6:30 pm on Thursday. The traders' body said the decision followed telephonic advice from the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the New Delhi Municipal Council, who had asked commercial establishments to shut for the day.
The Cockroach Janta Party has been holding a protest for over a month at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities and paper leaks. On Thursday, the protest and the resulting restrictions disrupted road, Metro and business activity across central Delhi.
Traffic across central Delhi was badly hit on Thursday as security restrictions around a protest at Jantar Mantar and the closure of 17 Metro stations left commuters stranded for hours. Many office-goers were forced to take longer and costlier routes as key roads were barricaded and public transport came under added pressure.
The disruption, which continued for a second straight day, affected both road and Metro travel and also spilled over to commercial activity in Connaught Place. Police advised people to avoid unnecessary travel to the New Delhi area, while traders in Connaught Place were asked to shut shops, offices and restaurants by 6:30 pm.
Traffic snarls were reported on major roads in New Delhi as police tightened security arrangements in view of the protest. Several travellers complained of slow-moving traffic on Parliament Marg, Tolstoy Marg, the Connaught Place Outer Circle, Patel Chowk, India Gate Circle, DDU Marg and Minto Road, among other routes. Restrictions also affected traffic near the ITO tunnel, where motorists reported long queues after part of the road was barricaded.
"I usually travel from Noida via Vikas Marg to Mandi House. On a normal day, it takes about 45 minutes, but today it took me over 1.5 hours," a commuter said. Another commuter wrote on social media, "About 1.5 km of the Noida-Delhi highway is jammed. The traffic police could have issued a public advisory, especially for office commuters, before barricading half the road near the ITO tunnel."
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said 17 stations were shut until further instructions. The measure, taken for the second consecutive day, pushed office-goers and other passengers to depend on buses, auto-rickshaws and cabs. Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhamba Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh, Shivaji Stadium and Jhandewalan stations did not open on Thursday.
A commuter said the closure added at least 45 minutes to an already nearly 40-minute journey. The restrictions led to crowded buses, longer waits for public transport and higher demand for autos and cabs.
Several commuters said they had to take circuitous routes to reach their offices and homes, and the traffic situation worsened in the evening as offices closed. Traffic police diverted vehicles through alternative routes from busier stretches.
The disruption also affected businesses in Connaught Place. The New Delhi Traders Association issued an advisory asking shops, offices and restaurants in the area to close by 6:30 pm on Thursday. The traders' body said the decision followed telephonic advice from the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the New Delhi Municipal Council, who had asked commercial establishments to shut for the day.
The Cockroach Janta Party has been holding a protest for over a month at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities and paper leaks. On Thursday, the protest and the resulting restrictions disrupted road, Metro and business activity across central Delhi.
