Central Delhi traffic remained largely manageable on Friday, but protests and security restrictions caused severe disruption around Connaught Place’s Inner Circle and Mandi House, affecting movement during the festive shopping period. The Delhi Metro continued to operate, providing commuters with an alternative as police controls tightened across several central roads.
At Connaught Place, police vehicles and buses occupied both sides of the Inner Circle by 5pm, leaving only a single row of vehicles moving through parts of the stretch, according to a report by the Times of India. By about 5.30pm, the road appeared to have been shut as protesters began marching.
Mandi House, particularly Barakhamba Road, also experienced congestion after AISA’s Neha Bora called for a Tiranga march. The disruption, however, remained concentrated in selected parts of central Delhi rather than spreading across the wider road network. Several other roads continued to move relatively smoothly compared with previous protest days.
Security restrictions were imposed after CJP issued a call for ‘Lehra do Tiranga’. The areas under tight security included Rajiv Chowk metro station, Janpath, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, State Entry Road, Chelmsford Road, Inner Circle, KG Marg, Windsor Place, Rafi Marg, Rail Bhavan, Sunheri Masjid, C-Hexagon, Sansad Marg, Minto Road, Tolstoy Marg, Barakhamba Road flyover, Mandi House and DDU Marg.
The continued operation of the metro offered some relief to commuters, particularly as Durga Puja and Dussehra celebrations increased movement in and around Connaught Place. The report noted that festive shopping was also picking up, making access to commercial areas more sensitive to road restrictions.
Several people expressed frustration online about the uncertainty created by repeated traffic curbs. One user questioned how families attending Durga Puja events in and around Connaught Place could commute. Others said ordinary residents were bearing the impact of protests and asked why movement across the city should be affected by a relatively small gathering.
The concerns extended beyond leisure and shopping. Online comments cited the possibility of schoolchildren being delayed in buses, ambulances facing slower movement and travellers struggling to reach railway stations or airports on time. A user also urged traders’ associations and shopkeepers to respond, arguing that repeated congestion was affecting businesses and festive sales.
The report did not indicate a citywide traffic shutdown. Instead, the disruption followed a familiar central Delhi pattern in which security restrictions and protest marches affect a limited number of strategically important roads while the wider network continues to function. The immediate commuter impact was therefore uneven, with conditions changing sharply between restricted stretches and nearby roads.
The Delhi Metro remained operational during the reported restrictions. The affected road corridors and security arrangements were expected to determine access to Connaught Place, Mandi House and adjoining central government and commercial areas as the protests and festive activity continued.
