Delhi Traffic Police has warned of disruptions on roads in and around Connaught Place from 3 pm on October 16 because of a proposed gathering by the Cockroach Janata Party at Central Park, while the park will remain closed for two days and restrictions are already in force in the area.
In an advisory posted on X, the traffic police said movement on certain roads around Connaught Place was likely to be affected from 3 pm onwards. It asked commuters to plan their journeys, allow sufficient travel time, use public transport wherever possible and follow directions issued by traffic personnel.
The police said traffic diversions could be introduced depending on the prevailing situation. Commuters were advised to monitor the Delhi Traffic Police’s official social media handles for real-time information on route changes.
The New Delhi Municipal Council said on Thursday that Central Park would be closed to the public on October 16 and 17 for “administrative reasons”. The closure affects one of Connaught Place’s principal public spaces during a period when the proposed gathering is expected to place additional pressure on roads and pedestrian movement around the commercial district.
Delhi Police also said a prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita was already in force in Connaught Place and surrounding areas. The police appealed to protesters not to violate the order.
At the same time, the police told the Delhi High Court that they may consider arrangements allowing a select group of individuals to gather at a suitable location to carry the national flag and sing the national anthem. The assurance was given while the court heard a plea by Anil Kumar Gupta, a licensed street vendor at Palika Bazar.
Gupta had approached the court expressing apprehension that the proposed gathering could disrupt business activity in the area. A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma recorded the police assurance on Thursday.
The advisory places the operational responsibility for managing movement on the Delhi Traffic Police, which may alter routes according to conditions on the ground. For commuters, the immediate impact is likely to be concentrated around Connaught Place from the afternoon, with public transport and additional travel time being the main alternatives identified by the authorities.
The Central Park closure and the traffic restrictions also affect how the New Delhi district manages access to a densely used commercial and public-space zone during a proposed public gathering. The police’s next updates on diversions and any arrangements for the gathering will determine how movement is managed through the area.
