Mapping Delhi’s traffic trouble
Delhi authorities have identified 62 fixed congestion hotspots across the capital—locations where traffic snarls recur at predictable hours. The list was jointly prepared by Delhi Traffic Police and validated by agencies including Public Works Department, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, and the transport department.
What exactly is a ‘hotspot’?
These hotspots are specific points on road stretches, not entire corridors, where congestion builds up daily due to structural or operational flaws. From railway station approaches to market zones and border points, each location has been flagged after repeated traffic pile-ups during peak hours.
Citywide spread of bottlenecks
The 62 hotspots span all zones of Delhi—from Bhavbhuti Marg outside New Delhi Railway Station to Madhuban Chowk, Mayur Vihar Phase III, South Extension, Punjabi Bagh, and major transit hubs like Kashmere Gate and Anand Vihar, reflecting how congestion cuts across residential, commercial and transport zones.
Structural flaws at the core
The assessment exposed long-standing civic issues such as narrow carriageways, poorly designed junctions, damaged or missing medians, illegal parking, encroachments, and extended civil works—all of which combine to choke traffic flow, especially during rush hours.
Local problems, big jams
At some locations, congestion is driven by hyper-local factors. On Boulevard Road near Tis Hazari, for instance, vehicles parked by advocates block both carriageways and two DTC bus stops, triggering hours-long traffic snarls on working days.
Immediate fix: More cops on the road
Authorities have deployed additional traffic personnel—ranging from 5 to over 20 staff per hotspot—to manage flow, regulate violations and prevent breakdowns. High-deployment zones include ISBT Kashmere Gate, Boulevard Road, Kondli Bridge, Vikas Marg, Sardar Patel Marg, and ISBT Anand Vihar.
Encroachments under the scanner
Encroachment removal drives have begun at 40+ locations, including Sadar Bazar, Qutab Road, Azadpur Mandi, Libaspur underpass, South Extension, Sarai Kale Khan, Neela Gumbad, and the stretch outside Max Hospital, Saket, aiming to reclaim road space and footpaths.
Subways, FOBs and underpasses planned
For 14 major hotspots, agencies have proposed long-term structural solutions such as subways, foot overbridges and underpasses. Key locations include ISBT Kashmere Gate, Boulevard Road, Kondli Bridge, Kapashera Border, and Old Delhi–Gurgaon Road, with timelines ranging from months to two years.
Parking as a traffic fix
At choke points like the Hanuman temple area, authorities are exploring dedicated parking facilities or multilevel car parks to curb roadside parking. Joint surveys between traffic police and civic agencies are planned to finalise designs and feasibility.
Beyond band-aid solutions
Officials say the hotspot exercise is meant to go beyond temporary measures. The goal is a coordinated, multi-agency response that blends enforcement, infrastructure upgrades and better road design—offering sustained relief at some of Delhi’s most congested traffic points.