Raahgiri Day temporarily turned Connaught Place’s Inner Circle into a people-centric public space on Sunday, bringing Delhi residents together for cycling, fitness, sports, music and community activities without vehicular traffic. The event was organised in collaboration with Sundays on Cycle and involved government agencies and civil society organisations.
Children, young people, senior citizens and families used the road for walking, cycling and recreational activities during the early-morning programme. The event included yoga, Zumba, badminton, cricket, folk dance, puppet shows, chalk art, games and fitness sessions, allowing the Inner Circle to function as a shared civic space rather than only as a traffic corridor.
Delhi Cabinet Minister Ashish Sood, New Delhi Municipal Council chairman Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Ajay Chaudhary and Raahgiri Foundation co-founder Sarika Panda Bhatt flagged off a cycle rally to inaugurate the event. A live performance by Euphoria Band at Central Park drew young participants, who sang and danced along with the music.
Sood said Raahgiri was not limited to individual fitness but was also connected to the health and well-being of the city. He said cycling could help reduce air pollution while supporting physical fitness and healthier lifestyles. He added that the Delhi Government was working to develop dedicated cycling tracks and promote cleaner mobility.
Dwivedi said holding the event at Connaught Place conveyed the importance of cleaner and safer mobility. He said the participation of young people showed the significance of collective efforts to address pollution and encourage sustainable modes of transport.
Chaudhary urged Delhi residents to follow traffic rules and avoid practices such as triple riding and driving on the wrong side of the road. He said controlling pollution required both collective and individual responsibility.
The event was themed “Roads are beautiful when they belong to people”. It brought together the Delhi Police, Delhi Development Authority, New Delhi Municipal Council, Fit India and the Raahgiri Foundation. The participating organisations used the traffic-free setting to highlight how public roads can also support recreation, social interaction and healthier urban living.
The programme also placed temporary street access within a wider mobility discussion. While the event itself was limited to a designated period at Connaught Place, the statements by participating officials linked the initiative to cleaner transport, cycling infrastructure and safer road use. The Delhi Government’s stated next step is to work towards dedicated cycling tracks and promote cleaner mobility.