Chinese Premier departs, leaves behind traffic trail in Capital

Thousands of motorists had to deal with traffic jams on arterial roads, mostly in south Delhi, on Tuesday due to restrictions imposed in wake of movement of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang

.

Due to restrictions imposed on the busy Sardar Patel Marg, which serves as the key link between Gurgaon and central Delhi, till 1.30 pm, the cascading effect was seen on Ring Road, Ridge Road, Moti Bagh and Saint Martin Road.

Movement of airport and Gurgaon bound traffic was also restricted for about half-an-hour in the afternoon while the Chinese leader was on his way to the airport.

Commuters heaved a sigh of relief only after he departed in the afternoon.

“Sardar Patel Marg was opened for traffic at 1.30 pm after the Chinese Premier reached IGI Airport. Till then motorists moving from central Delhi to Dhaula Kuan and airport were diverted to Ridge Road and Moti Bagh,” said a senior traffic police officer.

While traffic between south and central Delhi improved after restrictions were withdrawn on Shyama Prasad Marg, the evening peak hour was bad for those travelling between New Delhi and east Delhi due to IPL match at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.

In the morning hours, traffic restrictions were also imposed on arterial roads such as Bhairon Marg, Mathura Road and Ring Road as top leaders of the Central government and the Congress visited Vir Bhumi near Raj Ghat.