A day after Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit showcased Delhi Police's traffic management prowess, the city's recurring congestion problem resurfaced with a vengeance. On Saturday, extensive traffic jams paralyzed key stretches around the Oberoi flyover, Lodhi Road, and Sunder Nursery, exposing the fragile infrastructure struggling under weekend tourist pressure.
Commuters Face Nightmare Gridlock
Commuters faced an arduous crawl, with reports indicating it took nearly 40 minutes to cover a mere 400 metres in the affected zones. Traffic officers pointed to the ongoing Saras Food Festival at Sunder Nursery as the primary cause for the sudden rush. For many visitors like 25-year-old first-timer Arshdeep, the site, meant to be a nostalgic and charming picnic spot, turned into a source of frustration. His takeaway was clear: "Never go on a weekend — it's a mess outside due to traffic." This sentiment echoed among thousands of weekend visitors.
A Popular Destination's Growing Pains
Sunder Nursery, reopened a few years ago after a decade-long restoration by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), has become a hugely popular weekend escape. Its popularity, however, comes at a significant cost to the surrounding road network. Each weekend, Delhi Traffic Police deploy personnel near the Sabz Burj roundabout to stop cars once the approximately 360 parking spots fill up.
The situation reached a critical point on Saturday. The Subz Burj Junction, a crucial convergence point for Mathura Road, Lodhi Road, Zakir Hussain Road, and the Oberoi flyover, descended into complete deadlock. This junction is not just an entry point to Sunder Nursery, Humayun's Tomb, or the zoo; it is a major arterial link between south and central Delhi. The gridlock impacted office commuters, Noida-bound traffic, buses, ambulances, and daily travellers, proving the roundabout is an unavoidable choke point for thousands.
Personal Stories of Traffic Woes
The human impact was stark. Sonalika Paul, returning to India after two years, planned a family picnic at Sunder Nursery. Her 23km journey from Noida, estimated at 45 minutes by navigation apps, ballooned to 1.5-2 hours, with the final 3km alone consuming 40 minutes. Her brother had to abandon the trip due to full parking. Another commuter, Rohit, while dropping off his son's friend, lamented the routine nature of the chaos. "Even after traffic clears on Oberoi flyover, crossing Subz Burj itself takes nearly an hour," he said.
The congestion was compounded by e-rickshaws, autos, and pedestrians crowding the roads, while vendors encroached on pavements, forcing people onto the streets. Although police were stationed at Sabz Burj, the congestion spilled far beyond, with areas near Lodhi flyover and Lodhi Road seeing no officer presence, leading to chaos and ignored traffic signals.
Authorities Acknowledge the Challenge
Traffic police sources acknowledged the difficulty, stating that most staff, including inspectors, were deployed at Sabz Burj and nearby roundabouts when jams were reported. However, the sheer volume of visitors made the situation tough to control. The lack of internal parking and already choked roads present a persistent management challenge.
Ratish Nanda, CEO of AKTC India, noted that Saturday saw around 14,000 visitors inside Sunder Nursery, a typical number for a winter weekend. He emphasized that the nursery, along with Humayun's Tomb, Nizamuddin Dargah, and the zoo, draws thousands during this season. Defending the festival, which supports women's self-help groups, he stated, "If we don't give them space, who will?" He highlighted ongoing coordination with Delhi Traffic Police but issued a warning: "Without more parking and better traffic management, congestion could affect this area year-round."
