Traffic jam on the occassion on Dhanteras ahead of Diwali festival in New Delhi. (PTI)
The national capital reeled under massive traffic jams because of JNU students' protest outside the police headquarters over a student, Najeeb Ahmed, missing for the last 14 days, and a large number of shoppers on the occasion of Dhanteras.
Major intersections like Dhaula Kuan, Mahipalpur, Badarpur, Mukarba Chowk, Laxmi Nagar, ITO, Akshardham Temple road witnessed almost bumper to bumper traffic and long tailbacks, a senior traffic police official said.
The traffic situation in Central Delhi was severely affected as people witnessed bumper to bumper traffic around India Gate, Janpath and Mathura Road.
It was further affected with close to 40 students protesting outside the Police Headquarters over their "inability" to trace the missing student.
The students sat outside the ITO Metro station and blocked the road, affecting traffic on the stretch. Later they met a senior officer who assured them that the matter is "high-priority" for them.
"The protest severely affected the traffic coming from New Delhi area towards East Delhi. We had to divert the traffic towards Delhi Gate. With Bhairon Road being choked, commuters had to face a troubled time," a senior police officer said.
A police officer said they are expecting a gridlock in Central Delhi due to the protest as well as festivities. Roads leading to markets like Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh, Lajpat Nagar witnessed jams as these markets are bustling with Dhanteras shoppers.
Traffic movement was also affected between Kamal T Point and Liberty Cinema, Panchsheel and Munirka and on the road towards Tilak Bridge since three DTC buses broke-down on these stretches.
Chaotic scenes prevailed at major station of Delhi Metro, such as Rajiv Chowk, Kashmere Gate and Mandi House. Passengers struggled to get in and out of jam-packed metro coaches. Crowd swelled by the hour as festive revelers trooped out in large numbers.
According to a Delhi Metro spokesperson 22.65 lakh people had taken the metro till 8 pm.
Although last Friday's figure was higher, a Delhi Metro official said today's chaotic scenes may be because the crowd swelled specifically after the afternoon.
The festive revelry spilled across to the capital's satellite neighbours such as Gurgaon as well.
"Entry to IFFCO Chowk and M G Road stations on Yellow Line had to be regulated briefly due to overcrowding in station premises, although services returned to normalcy soon after," a DMRC official said.