NEW DELHI: Closure of 17 Metro stations and security restrictions around the protest at Jantar Mantar threw traffic out of gear across central Delhi on Thursday, leaving commuters stranded for hours and forcing many to take longer and costlier routes.
Traffic snarls were reported on major roads in New Delhi as police barricaded key stretches and intensified security arrangements in view of the protest.
“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 on social media posted, “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.”
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.
The restrictions also affected traffic near the ITO tunnel, where motorists complained of long queues after a portion of the road was barricaded.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said it had shut 17 of its stations until further instructions. The measure, taken on the second consecutive day, forced 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 for business on Thursday.
A commuter said the closure added at least 45 minutes more to an almost 40-minute journey.
The restrictions manifested in crowded buses, longer waits for public transport and higher demand for autos and cabs. Several commuters said they were forced to take circuitous routes to reach their offices and homes.
The traffic situation worsened in the evening as offices closed.
Traffic police diverted through alternative routes from busier sections. The police advised people to avoid unnecessary travel to the New Delhi area.
The disruption also affected commercial establishments in Connaught Place.
The New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) 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 (NDMC), who had asked commercial establishments to shut for the day.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) 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.
PTI