Raksha Bandhan Travel Surge Snarls Delhi Roads, Overwhelms Metro

Delhi-NCR witnessed severe traffic congestion on Friday as large numbers of people travelled to celebrate Raksha Bandhan. Long queues of vehicles were reported on several critical stretches, including the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, MB Road, Kalindi Kunj, Pragati Maidan, and Akshardham. The Delhi-Meerut Expressway saw particularly heavy flow that persisted for hours, with traffic teams deployed to manage the slow-moving vehicles.

MB Road in Chhatarpur reported jams stretching for kilometres. At the Lado Sarai Old MB Road signal, commuters alleged that buses were jumping red lights and obstructing pedestrians at zebra crossings. The Sarai Kale Khan route also saw heavy congestion, while Kalindi Kunj remained a major bottleneck, with commuters noting that this issue occurs daily.

Slow-moving traffic was also reported on the Delhi-Saharanpur Highway near Geeta Colony Road. The Delhi Police had earlier issued an advisory for August 27 and 28, warning of increased movement around Anand Vihar ISBT, Road No. 56, NH-9, and Vikas Marg, and advised commuters to use alternate routes.

Additional CP (Traffic) Vijyanta Arya said personnel have been deployed at interstate borders and areas with high footfall during festivals, such as metro stations and markets. The road congestion was matched by a significant surge in Delhi Metro ridership, with several stations witnessing heavy passenger influx as people travelled ahead of the festive weekend.