Delhi half marathon traffic diversions will affect New Delhi and central Delhi on Sunday, with restrictions and route changes in place from 4:45 am to 11 am as around 40,000 participants take part in the event. Delhi Traffic Police has advised commuters to avoid affected roads and use alternate corridors to reduce delays.
The race will begin at 5:10 am from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The elite men’s category will start at 5:18 am, followed by the elite women’s race at 5:20 am and the amateur category at 5:30 am. A 2.5-km run for persons with disabilities and senior citizens is scheduled for 6:30 am.
Other events include the open 10-km run at 7:35 am, the corporate run at 9 am and the Great Delhi Run at 9:05 am. Traffic controls will remain in force as participants move through central areas and around key ceremonial and institutional landmarks.
The main route will pass from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium through Bhishma Pitamah Marg, Lodhi Road, Aurobindo Marg, Mathura Road, Subramania Bharati Marg, Dr Zakir Hussain Road, the C-Hexagon, Kartavya Path and the area around India Gate.
Traffic will also be regulated on or around Rajesh Pilot Marg, Amrita Sher-Gil Marg, Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, Bhairon Road, Tilak Marg and Parliament Street. These roads connect residential, commercial, institutional and heritage districts, meaning the restrictions are likely to affect cross-city movement during the morning peak for the event.
For north-south travel, the traffic advisory recommends using Ashram Chowk, Sarai Kale Khan, Ring Road and the IP Flyover. Commuters travelling east-west have been advised to use the DND Flyway, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Marg, AIIMS Chowk and Ring Road.
Vehicles coming from Vikas Marg can use ITO, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg and Minto Road as alternative routes. The suggested corridors are intended to keep through-traffic away from the race course and maintain movement across Delhi while the event is under way.
The advisory is significant for more than race participants because the affected roads include several important connections between south, central, east and north Delhi. Commuters travelling to hospitals, railway-related areas, government offices and central business districts may need to allow additional time and check route conditions before leaving.
Delhi Traffic Police has said arrangements will be made to keep the movement of emergency vehicles uninterrupted. Restrictions and diversions will continue until 11 am, after which normal traffic movement is expected to be restored as the event infrastructure and participants clear the affected corridors.
