Delhi likely to witness traffic mess

New Delhi, March 11 (IANS) The national capital, which is hosting two major cultural events and at least 20,000 weddings between March 11-13, is likely to face huge traffic snarls.

The Art of Living (AoL) is holding its World Culture Festival at the Yamuna flood plains near DDA Land, Yamuna Bank between Mayur Vihar Phase-I Metro Station on the Noida link Road and the DND Flyway opposite ISBT Sarai Kale Khan in southeast Delhi.

The event is expected to attract 3-4 lakh people.

The Radha Soami Satsang Beas is also holding a programme in the Bhatti Complex on Bhatti Mines Road in south Delhi, which is expected to witness a public gathering of around 3-4 lakh people.

The traffic department advised people to avoid these areas and urged them to move with sufficient time keeping in mind the anticipated congestion on these roads.

In addition to that, the NCR region is also set to witness around 20,000 weddings, which may add to the congestion.

"We are not sure about the numbers of weddings planned. The numbers could be 25,000 or 20,000. This would however add to the traffic situation in Delhi," said Sharad Agarwal, Joint Commissioner of Police, Traffic.

For the AoL event, the traffic department said in its advisory that there are chances of a slow down and traffic congestion on Ring Road, Delhi-Noida Direct flyway, Noida link road and on NH 24 between Nizamuddin Khatta (landfill) up to Gazipur border.

All commercial vehicles might be restricted on Ring Road between Wazirabad flyover and Ashram Chowk.

The traffic department also planned diversions at certain points. These include a compulsory diversion towards DND on Sector 15 Noida and compulsory right turn towards ISBT from Gazipur Chowk.

According to the traffic department, there will be no traffic from Akshardham flyover loop towards Noida link road side. From Nizamuddin Khatta, traffic will go straight on NH-24 and no left turn on loop towards Noida link road will be allowed.

There will be no movement towards DND from Ashram Chowk. Left turn towards Neela Gumbad and right turn towards Okhla Mor from Ashram Chowk will also not be allowed, the traffic advisory says.

For the Radha Soami Satsang Beas event, the traffic department warned of heavy traffic and congestion on the Mehrauli-Gurgaon road, Mehrauli-Badarpur road, Aurobindo Marg, Bhatti Mines road and 100 Foota road.