Published on: October 19, 2025 | 2:38 AM IST

New Delhi — As festive fervour peaked ahead of Diwali, the national capital witnessed one of its busiest evenings of the year on Saturday. Dhanteras celebrations brought Delhi to a near standstill, with massive traffic congestion reported across major intersections, shopping hubs, and connecting highways. The rush was further compounded by thousands of passengers heading home for the festival, leading to record crowds at the New Delhi Railway Station.

Massive Traffic Snarls Across the Capital

From the early hours of the afternoon, the city’s key routes — including Kashmere Gate, Karol Bagh, and the Ring Road — began experiencing heavy vehicular buildup. As evening approached, the situation worsened, with commuters stuck in long queues that stretched across several kilometres. Shoppers thronged the markets, turning Delhi’s busiest commercial areas into scenes of chaos.

The festive spirit was clearly visible across the city, but so was the strain on its infrastructure. Chandni Chowk, Lajpat Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, and Karol Bagh witnessed overwhelming crowds, forcing the Delhi Traffic Police to issue advisories and impose temporary restrictions. With Diwali just two days away, markets were packed with residents purchasing jewellery, utensils, electronics, and festive decorations for Dhanteras, a day traditionally associated with prosperity and wealth.

Traffic flow in and out of the National Capital Region (NCR) was equally disrupted. Major roads connecting Delhi to Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad saw extended traffic jams as residents from neighbouring cities joined the capital’s markets to take advantage of festive sales and discounts.

Traffic Restrictions and Advisory from Police

Anticipating the congestion, the Delhi Traffic Police had issued an advisory earlier in the week, warning citizens about potential gridlock in popular shopping zones. On Saturday, it announced special restrictions for Chandni Chowk and nearby markets, effective between 2 pm and 10 pm from October 18 to 21. The restrictions were aimed at managing both vehicular and pedestrian traffic during peak shopping hours.

According to the advisory, the authorities expected “a large number of visitors likely to visit the area, causing heavy vehicular and pedestrian movement.” To address this, special traffic arrangements were put in place to ensure smoother flow, pedestrian safety, and overall public convenience.

Several traffic personnel were deployed at busy intersections and near metro stations to guide commuters and manage diversions. Despite these measures, the density of vehicles and footfall made navigation difficult across much of the city. Public transport services, including Delhi Metro and DTC buses, also saw increased ridership as citizens sought alternatives to avoid gridlock.

Markets See Record Crowds Ahead of Diwali

The Chandni Chowk market, one of the oldest and most visited areas during Diwali, saw unprecedented crowds. Shoppers navigated narrow lanes brimming with stalls selling diyas, sweets, gold ornaments, and festive attire. Traders reported brisk business throughout the day, noting that this year’s Dhanteras brought back pre-pandemic levels of shopping enthusiasm.

Similar scenes unfolded in Lajpat Nagar, Karol Bagh, and Rajouri Garden, where shopkeepers extended working hours to accommodate the rush. Police officials said crowd management was a major challenge given the overlapping influx of both vehicles and pedestrians. Despite appeals for staggered shopping timings, most markets remained overcrowded until late evening.

New Delhi Railway Station Sees Record Passenger Footfall

As the city’s roads teemed with vehicles, the New Delhi Railway Station faced its own share of chaos. Nearly 75,000 passengers and their families arrived at the station on Saturday, marking one of the highest single-day passenger counts recorded this year. Long queues of travellers were seen at ticket counters, security checkpoints, and platforms as people hurried to board trains headed for their hometowns.

Videos from the station showed dense crowds moving through corridors and foot overbridges, while platforms were packed with passengers carrying luggage, gifts, and festive items. The surge was expected, as Diwali weekend traditionally witnesses an exodus of people from Delhi to northern and eastern states to celebrate with their families.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited the New Delhi station in the evening to oversee arrangements and inspect crowd management systems. Speaking to the media, he acknowledged the record turnout but expressed satisfaction with the infrastructure improvements made in recent months.

“There is record footfall today. About 75,000 passengers have come to the New Delhi Railway Station. The holding area, a large number of toilets, and additional ticket counters have been constructed here. This is yielding benefits,” Vaishnaw said.

“There is systematic movement of passengers, and nobody can go in without getting a ticket. So, there is a positive benefit,” he added.

The minister also reviewed the functioning of a mini control room installed at the station, which uses a network of CCTV cameras to monitor crowd movements and security arrangements in real time. Officials said the control room played a vital role in identifying bottlenecks and coordinating with on-ground staff to maintain order.

Coordinated Efforts to Manage the Festive Rush

The Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), and station management teams worked round the clock to handle the rush. Temporary holding areas were opened to accommodate waiting passengers, and announcements were made at regular intervals to guide commuters. Additional water kiosks and help desks were also set up.

Officials noted that while the crowd was significantly larger than usual, the improved infrastructure — including wider concourses and dedicated entry lanes — prevented major incidents or stampedes. The overall passenger movement remained “systematic and safe,” according to the railway minister’s assessment.

City Gears Up for Diwali Amid Ongoing Festive Rush

With Diwali falling on October 21, Delhi is expected to witness similar levels of congestion and travel rush over the next two days. Authorities have urged citizens to plan their journeys in advance and use public transport wherever possible.

Traffic police officials said they would continue to deploy additional personnel at high-density areas and use drones for traffic monitoring. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is also expected to increase train frequency to accommodate the surge in passenger volume.

Meanwhile, markets are likely to stay packed through the weekend, as last-minute Diwali shopping continues. Jewelers, electronics stores, and gift shops have reported strong sales, while e-commerce platforms also recorded higher-than-usual order volumes.

As the city prepares for the grand festival of lights, the twin challenges of managing traffic and crowd control remain at the forefront for authorities. The combination of festive enthusiasm, shopping mania, and mass travel has once again tested the capital’s ability to balance celebration with civic order — a familiar yet enduring Diwali tradition in India’s bustling heart.