NEW DELHI: Commuters on Tuesday faced traffic jams on prominent stretches across Delhi as the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day parade began from Vijay Chowk towards the Red Fort. Also, cold weather, coupled with light rain, added to commuter woes.
All the parallel roads on the route of the parade in Central Delhi were congested as it started at 9.50 am because of barricades and pickets put in place by the traffic police. Among the prominent stretches badly affected by the traffic jam were ITO, Akshardham to Nizamuddin, Akshardham to Delhi-Noida-Delhi flyover, NH-24 and Pusa Road. Even in areas like Mayurvihar Phase 1 and III, Karol Bagh-Rajendra Nagar (Pusa Road) and Ranhola to Najafgarh witnessed traffic jams.
Pedestrians were the most affected as entry and exit to many Metro stations in Lutyens’ Delhi were restricted, forcing many to walk in rain to reach offices.
The ceremonial parade on January 26 is slated to begin at 9.50 am from Vijay Chowk and proceed towards the Red Fort Grounds through Rajpath, India Gate, Tilak Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and Netaji Subhash Marg.
In view of the rehearsal on Tuesday, vehicular movement on these roads were restricted as the parade passed through Rajpath. On the Republic Day, entry and exit will be closed at Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhavan Metro stations from midnight till 12.30 pm on January 26.
Patel Chowk and Race Course metro stations will be closed for entry and exit from 8.45 am till 12.30 pm. These restrictions were in place on Tuesday.
“I have my office near Patel Chowk, but since the metro exit was closed, I had to go to Rajiv Chowk metro station. From there I had to walk to my office, but rain compounded the problem,” said an official, who did not wish to be named.
Abhishek Kumar, another commuter, said, “Security drill we are aware of, but rain and cold weather made walking difficult.”
