'It's not Bengaluru and elites don't care': Delhi Diwali traffic chaos sparks debate
Roads of Delhi and adjoining cities of Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad have been choked with traffic lately amid the Diwali rush.
As images of stalled vehicles and miles-long jams of Delhi amid Diwali rush did the rounds, social media users quickly turned the spotlight towards another familiar player in India's urban traffic discourse: Bengaluru.
Delhi's traffic gridlock has been stirring quite the conversation online - not just about the capital but about Karnataka's Bengaluru also, residents of which feel the snarls of other cities are not reported as much.
Comments under visuals of Delhi's choked roads have been coming in thick and fast, many playfully noting the absence of criticism usually directed at Bengaluru's infamous traffic. “Where are all the anti Bengaluru gang . They will be silent about this,” said one user.
One user quipped, "It's fine… because it's not Bangalore, right?", another wrote, “It's not bangalore and all the elites don't care”.
Some even joked that the only reason Bengaluru was free of traffic this week was because most of its residents had flown back home for the festive break.
It's not the first time two of India's busiest metros have been pitted against each other in the court of public opinion - especially when it comes to infrastructure, mobility, and, of course, traffic.
Delhi roads choked
Delhi has been seeing bumper-to-bumper traffic on key stretches such as Outer Ring Road, Ring Road, Mathura Road between Pragati Maidan and Badarpur border, Aurobindo Marg, Barapullah elevated road, Delhi Noida Direct (DND) Flyway, Delhi-Meerut Expressway and other roads leading to adjoining cities of Ghaziabad, Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
Social media platform X, formerly Twitter, has been flooded with commuters writing about the choking traffic jams that prompted the Delhi Police on Thursday to cancel leaves of all traffic personnel to handle the situation.
“I’ve never seen traffic like this in Delhi! Been stuck in the same spot for over 2 hours nothing’s moving. Called 112 three-four times, but the call kept dropping and no one called back. What a mess! With the festival season ahead, this is pathetic planning by the authorities,” one user wrote on X.
Ahead of Diwali, an elaborate and multi-layered security arrangement has been implemented across Delhi to ensure a safe and secure celebration for all residents, according to an official statement from the city police.
Special security measures have been implemented at key markets, crowded public places, and commercial hubs with high foot traffic. Delhi Police has deployed an adequate number of personnel across all districts, assisted by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) as force multipliers to strengthen on-ground security.
To manage heavy vehicular movement during the festive rush, the Delhi Traffic Police said it has deployed maximum manpower to regulate traffic, ensure pedestrian safety, and maintain public convenience.
Traffic advisories are being issued regularly, detailing restrictions, diversions, designated parking locations, and important instructions for commuters. Authorities have appealed to the public to follow traffic rules, obey instructions, use public transport, and avoid personal vehicles wherever possible.
(With inputs from ANI)
