Long snarls hold up commuters even as pilgrims’ rush trails off

The Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage that entered its final stretch on Wednesday has triggered a traffic crisis in almost every part of Delhi since July 20, when the movement of kanwariyas started swelling.

- Karn Pratap Singh

Massive traffic snarls have paralysed Delhi despite the deployment of over 1,000 traffic police personnel and multiple traffic advisories. Many key routes connecting the national capital with Uttar Pradesh have been closed due to heavy rush of kanwariyas

Commuters said that even as the authorities have created dedicated lanes for the Kanwar pilgrimage movement using ropes, jersey barriers and iron barricades, kanwariyas on foot and in vehicles fitted with boom boxes and disco lights are often seen moving on the space earmarked for the general traffic.

People said the police personnel deployed on the Kanwar routes were seen observing violations without intervening and many kanwariyas even breached the routes and easily passed through residential neighbourhoods without facing any impediments from the administration.