Muharram Processions in Delhi: Traffic Advisory

Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory in preparation for the Muharram processions scheduled on 28th and 29th July. The main Tazia processions will commence from various locations around 9 p.m. on Friday night. One significant route will start from Chhatta Shahzad, Kalan Mahal, passing through Kamra Bangash, Chitli Qabar, Churi Walan, Matia Mahal, Jama Masjid, Chawri Bazar, Hauz Qazi, and then return via the same route. Another major procession will begin from Old Police Chowki and take the route through Ashok Basti, Qutub Road, Khari Baoli, Lal Kuan, Hauz Kazi, Chawri Bazar, Jama Masjid, and vice versa.

While Tazias from Nizamuddin, Okhla, and Mehrauli will directly reach Karbala, other Tazia processions will take place in various districts of Delhi and conclude at local Karbalas in their respective areas. On Saturday, 29th July, at approximately 11 a.m., the processions will reconvene and follow the same route, assembling at Kalan Mahal and proceeding to Karbala via Pahari Bhojla, Chitli Qabar, Matia Mahal Chowk, Jama Masjid, Chawri Bazar, Chowk Hauz Qazi, Ajmeri Gate, New Delhi Railway Station, Connaught Place, and other key areas.

Delhi Traffic Police has formulated a diversion plan for Delhi Transport Corporation and other city buses to manage traffic during the processions. This plan includes curtailment and rerouting of buses on various roads such as Desh Bandhu Gupta Road, W-Point, A-Point, Shanti Path, Panchsheel, Sardar Patel Marg, Aurbindo Chowk, Aurobindo Marg, South End, Prithviraj Road, and more.

Several prominent roads will be affected by traffic diversions, including Mathura Road, Maa Anandmai Marg, Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, Road No. 56 (Opps. Anand Vihar Terminal), Road No. 66 (towards Wazirabad), Pankha Road, Palam-Dabri Road, Zakhira Flyover to Inderlok Metro Station (Bir Banda Bahadur Singh Marg), and Najafgarh Road from Zakhira to Kishanganj, as mentioned in the police advisory. Commuters heading to New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday, particularly in the evening hours, are advised to leave in advance to account for possible delays on the routes. Alternative routes like Tilak Marg, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, Rajghat, and Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg can be used, depending on the procession’s movement.

To ensure smooth traffic management, traffic movement will be regulated from 12 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. on various roads such as Jama Masjid Road, Chawri Bazaar, Asaf Ali Road, JLN Marg, Nai Sadak, Panchkuian Road, Outer Circle of Connaught Place, Sansad Marg, Rafi Marg, Tughlak Road, Ashoka Road, Barakhamba Road, KG Marg, Janpath, Lodhi Road, and Jor Bagh Road, among others.

Motorists are advised to avoid these routes as the Muharram processions and adjacent roads are likely to experience slower traffic. For uninterrupted journeys, commuters are encouraged to use metro services, especially on the affected routes.