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DELHI, INDIA, October 14, 2004: For the first time in 32 years, the Durga Puja and Navaratri celebrations will coincide with the month of Ramzaan. As a result, the traffic situation in the already congested Walled City area is expected to worsen in the coming week. In and around Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, several Ramlilas (programs recounting the story of Lord Rama) have been scheduled along with evening prayers that would be held at the numerous mosques in the area. The main attractions are the Ramlilas staged at Parade Ground opposite the Red Fort, where about 7,000 people are expected each day and the famous Ramlila at the Ramlila Maidan at Asaf Ali road where an audience of almost 20,000 people is expected. Besides these, there would be two smaller Ramlilas in the area, one each in the park opposite Sunehri Masjid and the other opposite the Old Delhi Railway Station. In unison, both these events are expected to attract more than 20,000 people.



The locale is also home to several mosques, including the Jama Masjid and the Fatehpuri Mosque. There are several smaller mosques as well. During Ramzaan, Muslims come to offer prayers before they break their fast. All this activity in an area spanning barely three kilometers will adversely affect traffic flowing after 5.30 pm from Chandni Chowk, Karu Baoli, Jawaharlal Nehru marg, Delhi Gate, Ring road from Rajghat to ISBT, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg between October 14 and 23. The Delhi Traffic Police has made elaborate arrangements to combat the seasonal rush. “Since traffic flow will be affected, about 300 additional personnel have been deployed. We have also made special arrangements for parking vehicles so that they do not line up on the road and disturb the routine traffic,” says HPS Virk, DCP, Traffic, northern range. “Special arrangements have been made around the Jhandewalan temple, where about 10,000-12,000 devotees are expected. Through the day, over 50,000 people are expected to frequent the temple. This will have an impact on traffic from DB Gupta Marg and Rani Jhansi Road,” he added.

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