Unannounced traffic drill leads to chaos

On Tuesday morning, the Delhi Police decided it was time for a “contingency” drill — “to test even those situations in which we would have to make arrangements (for the movement of G20 leaders and delegates) with usual traffic in place”, said Aalap Patel, deputy commissioner of police (traffic).

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The unannounced rehearsal caught commuters by surprise, with even police personnel on the roads not sure of what to do. The confusion led to a mess that spilled over till at least early afternoon in some parts of the city.

To be sure, there were rehearsals on Saturday and Sunday as well, but those were done after detailed advisories were issued. Monday’s rehearsal of carcades, as the police calls them (a portmanteau of cars and cavalcade) — from hotels to Pragati Maidan, and to IARI Pusa and NGMA — brought traffic to a halt, especially in Lutyens’ Delhi, during peak office rush hours. Congestion was reported from Shanti Path, Sardar Patel Marg, C-Hexagon, Bhairon Marg, Bhairon Road-Ring Road, and Mathura Road.