Key Takeaways:
- Delhi Police and DMRC impose strict crowd management measures for New Year’s Eve, with vehicle movement barred in Connaught Place from 7 pm on 31 December.
- Delhi New Year traffic restrictions will include metro exit closures, designated parking zones and multiple road diversions to manage heavy footfall near India Gate and Saket malls.
- Motorists are advised to use suggested alternate routes and public transport as parking will be limited and unauthorised vehicles will be towed.
Delhi Police will enforce extensive traffic restrictions in central and south Delhi for New Year’s Eve as large crowds are expected across Connaught Place, India Gate and popular shopping malls. The measures begin at 7 pm on 31 December and will remain in place until celebrations conclude, authorities said.
Delhi New Year traffic restrictions and crowd control measures
The advisory bans private and public vehicles from entering Connaught Place after 7 pm unless they hold valid entry passes. In addition, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will close all exit gates at Rajiv Chowk station after 9 pm to aid crowd management. Police have identified several control points where vehicular approach will be blocked, including roundabouts near Mandi House, Bengali Market and Gole Market.
Vehicular movement will not be permitted inside the Inner, Middle or Outer Circles of Connaught Place except for authorised vehicles. Officers will be deployed across intersections such as Jai Singh Road and Kasturba Gandhi Road-Ferozeshah Road crossing to regulate pedestrian flow and prevent congestion.
Nearby India Gate is also expected to draw heavy crowds. Traffic may be restricted or diverted at O-Point, W-Point and Sunheri Masjid roundabouts and on arteries such as Rajpath-Rafi Marg and Mathura Road. Commuters are urged to expect delays and to plan journeys accordingly.
Parking and alternate routes
Authorities have designated temporary parking facilities around Connaught Place at locations including Kali Bari Marg, Pt Pant Marg, Rakab Ganj Road and Jantar Mantar Road. Parking will operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Unauthorised parking will be subject to towing and prosecution, police warned.
To ease movement across the city, traffic police suggested several alternate corridors for north-south and east-west travel such as Ring Road, Mathura Road, Rani Jhansi Marg and Panchkuian Road. Motorists heading through south Delhi should note diversions in Saket from 2 pm on 31 December and 1 January, affecting Press Enclave Road and internal roads of Saket and Pushp Vihar.
Public transport and commuter advice
Heavy vehicles and DTC and cluster buses will face route restrictions on Press Enclave Road and adjacent stretches. Median cuts from Sheikh Sarai to Hauz Rani will remain closed. The traffic department urged commuters to avoid affected roads, use recommended alternate routes and favour public transport where possible as parking near Connaught Place and India Gate will be extremely limited.
Residents and visitors were reminded to follow directions from deployed traffic personnel and to check live updates before travelling. The coordinated measures by Delhi Police and DMRC aim to ensure safety and keep key thoroughfares moving during one of the city’s busiest nights of the year.
