Delhi traffic faces severe congestion due to festive rush and breakdowns
Commuters experienced doubled or tripled travel times across several major corridors in central, south, and north Delhi on Tuesday.
Major arterial roads across Delhi experienced heavy traffic congestion on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, according to reports from Hindustan Times and Pragativadi. The gridlock affected central, south, and north Delhi, with vehicles moving at a snail's pace during peak hours.
The congestion was observed on the Ring Road between Bhikaji Cama Place and the Indraprastha flyover, the Barapullah elevated corridor, and the DND flyway. Other affected routes included the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Vikas Marg, and the National Highway (NH)-48 connecting Gurugram and Delhi.
Traffic police attributed the delays to increased vehicle volume during the festive season, vehicle breakdowns, and unauthorised parking. Pragativadi also reported that winter pollution measures, involving checks at borders for non-BS-VI compliant vehicles, contributed to the queues.
Commuters on social media platform X reported being stranded for hours, with one user noting that three ambulances were stuck near the JLN Stadium on Barapullah Road. The Delhi Traffic Police responded to such reports, stating that a car breakdown had caused a bottleneck on the Barapullah corridor and that efforts were underway to restore movement.
A traffic police officer stated that increased footfall in shopping hubs and vehicle breakdowns during peak hours added to the problems. The officer added that police presence has been increased to manage the congestion.