Delhi traffic faces severe gridlock due to festive shopping rush
Heavy congestion and vehicle breakdowns caused major delays across several Delhi corridors on Tuesday evening.
Severe traffic congestion impacted major roads across central, south, and north Delhi on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, according to reports from Hindustan Times and Pragativadi. The gridlock was attributed to a surge in last-minute Diwali shopping, vehicle breakdowns, and winter pollution border enforcement.
According to Hindustan Times, bumper-to-bumper traffic was reported in shopping hubs including Sarojini Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, Karol Bagh, and Chandni Chowk. Long queues of cars, buses, and two-wheelers were seen at ITO, South Extension, and Dhaula Kuan. In North Delhi, jams occurred between Kamla Nagar and the Delhi University red light.
Pragativadi reported that travel times doubled or tripled on several routes. The Barapullah elevated corridor near JLN Stadium and the Ring Road between Bhikaji Cama Place and the IP flyover were among the affected areas. On NH-48, heavy traffic was noted on the Gurugram-Dhaula Kuan stretch near Mahipalpur.
Delhi Traffic Police stated that a car breakdown on the Barapullah corridor created a bottleneck. They also noted that increased footfall near retail hubs and unauthorized street parking increased traffic volume. Additionally, the enforcement of bans on non-BS-VI compliant diesel and petrol vehicles at borders contributed to queuing.
The Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory for November 4 regarding a proposed march from Karkari Mor to Nirman Vihar Metro Station. Traffic on Vikas Marg is expected to be affected between 3 pm and 5.30 pm, with diversions in place.