CWG walk event: Commuters face problems

NEW DELHI - With many key roads and some Metro stations closed for the Commonwealth Games 20-km walk event Saturday morning, people going to New Delhi faced problems in commuting.

Key New Delhi roads, including Ashoka Road, Red Cross Road, Jai Singh Road and Parliament Street remained closed from Friday midnight till 10.30 a.m. Saturday.

While Central Secretariat and Patel Chowk Metro Stations also remained totally closed till 10 a.m., some gates of the Rajiv Chowk station were also closed.

Those who had to go in the area near Parliament Street and Patel Chowk and those commuting from South Delhi to Connaught Place had to rely on the crowded Metro.

“There was huge rush in the Metro, but it was the only option to go,” said Shweta Arya who travelled from INA to Connaught Place.

The problem was worse for those who had to go near Patel Chowk.

“I had to go to Patel Chowk. I had to wait till 10.30 a.m.,” said Hemant Pathak, who lives in East Delhi.

There was some relief as central government offices remained closed Saturday and the crowd was less than on a weekday.

For the 165-km cycling event Sunday, traffic will be blocked at Sansad Marg, Rafi Marg, Janpath, Talkatora Road and some other routes in New Delhi from Saturday midnight till 6 p.m. Sunday.

The advisory, however, said the New Delhi Railway Station will be accessible.

Meanwhile, traffic jams were witnessed as usual across the city on roads with Commonwealth Games lanes. Though many offices were closed as it was a Saturday, peak hour traffic remained heavy.

Dhaula Kuan flyover, Mathura Road, ITO, Teen Murti Marg, August Kranti Marg and parts of Ring Road in New Delhi an South Delhi areas witnessed traffic jams.