Delhi traffic jam conditions spread across several major entry points and arterial roads on Saturday after Delhi Police imposed barricading, vehicle checks and route restrictions ahead of a proposed protest by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar. The measures caused long queues at the Rajokari and Sarhaul borders, congestion on NH-9 and delays on routes connecting central Delhi with the National Capital Region.
According to a report by Jagran, Delhi Police had not granted permission for the proposed demonstration and deployed personnel at multiple locations before the planned event. Vehicles were stopped for checking, while police and paramilitary personnel were positioned at several border points, tunnels and approach roads.
The Rajokari border on the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway recorded long lines of vehicles extending towards the Sarhaul border. Police were checking vehicle permits and the identity documents of passengers, while also asking travellers where they had come from and where they were headed. Barricading and surveillance were also reported at the Aya Nagar and Kapashera borders.
The restrictions affected routes beyond the Delhi-Gurugram corridor. At the Uttar Pradesh Gate, vehicle checks led to congestion on the service road along NH-9. The Badarpur flyover was closed, forcing vehicles to pass below it and contributing to queues on the highway. Tyre busters were installed on the route near the Flower Market, according to the report.
Several roads in central and eastern Delhi were also affected. The road linking New Delhi Railway Station with Connaught Place was closed, while barricades were installed near Sarai Kale Khan and on Pusta Road near Lalita Park. Vehicles considered suspicious were checked, with personnel seeking names, addresses and the reasons for entering Delhi. The Pragati Maidan tunnel was also closed, with police personnel deployed at the barricades.
For commuters travelling from Gurugram, barricading was reported near the Mehrauli TB Hospital. The combined effect of checks and closures disrupted movement at the city’s borders and on routes used by daily commuters, commercial vehicles and intercity travellers. The report said thousands of people were caught in the resulting congestion, although traffic volumes on some roads appeared lower than usual.
The contrast was visible on Vikas Marg, a route that commonly experiences heavy traffic. While several other corridors faced queues and delays, the road was reported to be unusually quiet on Saturday. Police restrictions and the proposed protest were the immediate reasons cited for the changes in traffic conditions.
The reported restrictions remained linked to security arrangements for the proposed Jantar Mantar demonstration. The report did not specify when the barricades, route closures or vehicle checks would be withdrawn.
