Delhi traffic restrictions are expected across central Delhi on Friday as the police prepares for a proposed Tiranga march at Connaught Place, deploying around 6,000 personnel and 200 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces in shifts.
The gathering, called the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march by Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, is scheduled for 5pm on October 16 at Central Park in Connaught Place. The party has appealed to people to attend with the national flag, describing the event as a campaign related to voting rights and the right to protest.
The proposed venue remains uncertain. The New Delhi Municipal Council has said Central Park will remain closed on Friday, while the Delhi Police said it may consider allowing a select group of people to gather at a suitable location to carry the national flag and sing the national anthem. A senior police officer said Jantar Mantar had also been denotified as a designated protest venue.
The officer said demonstrations could instead be held at Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground or CBD Ground after obtaining the required permission. The restrictions reflect the administrative challenge of managing a gathering in Connaught Place, a major commercial, public transport and employment hub in the national capital.
Police personnel will be positioned at strategic locations, with barricades, body-worn cameras and regulated movement for protesters and commuters. The deployment will be arranged in shifts to maintain security through the day and prevent any untoward incident, according to the report.
The Delhi Traffic Police has warned that movement on several roads and stretches around Connaught Place may be affected from 3pm. Dynamic diversions may be introduced depending on the situation. The potentially affected routes include Sansad Marg, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg, Panchkuian Road, Basant Lane, Chelmsford Road, Minto Road, Barakhamba Road, Kasturba Gandhi Marg and Janpath.
Other roads and junctions listed in the advisory include Rail Bhawan, Rafi Marg, C-Hexagon, Mandi House, Patel Chowk, Windsor Place, Gole Dak Khana, Ashoka Road between the General Post Office and C-Hexagon, Tilak Marg, Tolstoy Marg and Sikandra Road.
The traffic police has asked commuters to plan journeys in advance, allow additional travel time and use public transport where possible. Motorists have been advised to follow directions from traffic personnel and avoid roadside parking, using designated parking facilities instead. Real-time updates and alternate-route information will be available through the Delhi Traffic Police website and its official social media accounts. Commuters can also contact the traffic helplines at 1095 or 011-25844444.
The march follows the arrest of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were sent to five days of judicial custody after entering Jantar Mantar and raising slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The party has alleged large-scale deletions from electoral rolls and accused authorities of not addressing its concerns. These remain allegations made by the party.
At a joint press conference, Dipke urged political parties, student organisations and civil society groups to join the protest. The campaign began in Mumbai on October 2 and later moved to Delhi, where planned demonstrations and attempts to reach Jantar Mantar resulted in multiple detentions. The police and civic authorities’ next decisions on the gathering and traffic diversions will determine how Friday’s movement is managed across central Delhi.
