Thaindian News

New Delhi, Jan 12 (IANS) Most of the roads leading to south Delhi were choked Wednesday and traffic was diverted to other areas as people protested the demolition of an illegal religious structure in Jangpura area by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

The office-goers were stuck for hours as there were serpentine queues on roads leading to Jangpura in south Delhi.

Traffic jams were reported from Ring Road, Mathura Road, Nizamuddin, Lajpat Nagar, Moolchand, Ashram Chowk, Bhogal and other adjoining areas. Traffic was diverted leading to heavy rush on other routes.

“There was heavy traffic on Ring Road from Lajpat Nagar to Ashram Chowk due to protest by people who blocked the roads at Nizamuddin,” a Delhi Traffic Police officer said.

The traffic police said they were sending out SMSes to all the subscribers to avoid these routes so that longer snarls could be avoided.

“The road towards Bhogal-Jungpura was closed and there was heavy traffic on the route. I was stuck for three hours before traffic was diverted,” said Siddharth Rajpal, an office-goer.

Several people posted status of traffic on Delhi Traffic Police Facebook account.

“Please Delhi, avoid Lajpat Nagar and Ashram Chowk,” wrote Mahesh Verma.

The DDA Wednesday morning demolished an illegal religious structure in Jangpura, sparking protests by members of a community against whom police used force and tear gas shells.

The protesters blocked the entry gate of the Hazrat Nizamuddin Police Station and tried to enter the illegal religious structure whose demolition began at 6 a.m.