New Delhi: As the sacred Hindu month of Sawan begins, Delhi gears up for the annual Kanwar Yatra, a mass pilgrimage in which thousands of Lord Shiva devotees traverse long distances on foot carrying holy water from the Ganga River. With the Yatra officially commencing on Friday, Delhi Police has issued a detailed traffic advisory to manage the expected surge in road congestion and ensure a smoother journey for both pilgrims and daily commuters.
Pilgrims, popularly known as “Kanwariyas”, are expected to arrive in the capital from neighbouring states such as Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. As they make their way to the Ganges and return with the sacred water, several arterial roads in Delhi are anticipated to face significant traffic disruptions.
Traffic Advisory
In view of the movement of Kanwarias from adjoining states to Gangotri Dham & Haridwar via Delhi & back, #DelhiTrafficPolice has made elaborate traffic arrangements to minimise inconvenience to commuters & devotees. Kindly follow the advisory.#DPTrafficAdvisory pic.twitter.com/kSrdGFvPpM
— Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) July 10, 2025
Congestion hotspots across national capital
Key entry points into the city, including Wazirabad Road, GT Road, Loni Road, NH-24, Road Number 56, Kalindi Kunj Road, Mathura Road, and Ring Road, are likely to experience heavy congestion. Other stretches such as ISBT Kashmiri Gate, Rani Jhansi Road, Ridge Road, and Dhaula Kuan have also been identified as high-density zones due to the influx of devotees.
Anticipated bottlenecks across North & West Delhi
Additional bottlenecks are expected across parts of West and North Delhi, with roads in Nangloi-Najafgarh, Firni, Zakhira, Rohtak Road, Madipur, Peeragarhi, and Madhuban Chowk flagged as vulnerable to severe traffic build-up. Major junctions including Mukarba Chowk, Keshopur Mandi, Janakpuri, and Geeta Colony Pushta Road may also see delays.
Even inner-city routes such as Salimgarh Bypass, Indralok, and Azad Market are likely to be affected. Parts of the Outer Ring Road, Boulevard Road, and metro access points such as Seelampur, Welcome, Gokulpuri Flyover, and Shahdara are similarly expected to witness slower movement.
Roads in Delhi to avoid during pilgrimage
Commuters have been strongly advised to avoid several major roads during the Yatra. These include the Maharajpur and Ghazipur borders, Road Number 56, the Ghazipur roundabout, NH-24, Ring Road, Mathura Road via Badarpur, and the Kalindi Kunj corridor. These stretches are expected to be particularly challenging due to large groups of Kanwariyas moving through these roads.
Highways and border roads such as ISBT Majnu Ka Tila, Mukarba Chowk, and parts of NH-1 towards Singhu and Tikri are also anticipated to bear the brunt of the pilgrimage traffic.
Traffic diversions & precautionary measures
To mitigate congestion, the Delhi Traffic Police have planned multiple diversions. Vehicles approaching from NIB, Model Town, Chhijarsi, and the Taj Highway may be rerouted via the Eastern Peripheral Expressway. Entry from areas like Loni, Tulsi Niketan, Seemapuri, and the Anand Vihar border into Ghaziabad will be restricted.
Authorities have urged the public to plan journeys with caution, make use of alternative routes, and stay informed through traffic updates. The current arrangements are expected to remain in effect until the conclusion of the Yatra on July 23, marking the occasion of Sawan Shivratri.