Delhi Imposes Citywide Traffic Curbs for Chhath Puja, Metro Extended
10L+ devotees flood ghats, city grinds to halt.
Delhi Traffic Police activated citywide restrictions as Chhath Puja starts Monday evening. Over 10 lakh devotees target 20+ Yamuna ghats, freezing roads from 5 PM October 27 to 7 AM October 29. East Delhi hotspots include Gandhi Nagar Naav Ghat (45,000+), Geeta Colony ghats (45,000+ each), and Shastri Park DND Khadar. GT Road bans commercial vehicles 5-7 PM Monday and 5-7 AM Tuesday; Shantivan Loop and Laxmi Nagar-Kailash Nagar Road shut fully with rerouting via Disused Canal Road.
North and central zones host record crowds. Jagatpur’s Shyam Ghat expects 1 lakh+ visitors, joined by Shani Mandir Ghat and Vaasudev Ghat near ISBT. Majnu ka Tilla, Burari, and Wazirabad Road stay jammed. South Delhi’s Kalindi Kunj Bhola Ghat draws 2.5-3 lakh alone. MB Road, Khadar Kalindi Kunj Road, and Agar Canal Road remain blocked; Mehrauli-Badarpur Road serves as primary detour.
Northwest and outer Delhi report major gatherings at Bhalswa Lake and Majlis Park UP Bihar Ekta Maha Manch. Outer Ring Road from Bawana to Narela runs diversions; Holambi Kalan village roads open as backups. West Delhi slows at Dabri Surya Upasana Park, Raja Puri Vishwas Park, and Mangolpuri Chhath Puja Park. Raja Puri main road, Dabri-Palam road, and Mangolpuri arteries face evening gridlock.
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Over 500 officers, drones, and tow trucks enforce zero roadside parking near ghats with ₹2,000 fines. Designated lots operate at IP Extension, Kalindi Kunj, and Mangolpuri. Delhi Metro runs until 11 PM on Blue, Pink, and Magenta lines; DTC feeders link stations to sites. Railway stations and ISBT stay open but add 45-minute delays. Emergency lanes, footbridges, and LED paths secure ghats.
Attendance jumps 30 percent over 2023 from Bihar and eastern UP migrants. Devotees fill bamboo baskets with coconuts, fruits, and thekua for riverbank rituals. Live feeds on @dtptraffic and Google Maps guide commuters. Metro capacity expands; navigation apps reroute in real time. The capital halts for devotion while safety systems run at maximum.
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