Traffic snarls at India Gate, lawns stay shut for visitors

Unlike the previous years, when about 200,000 to 250,000 people thronged the India Gate lawns after the Republic Day Parade got over, the crowds were significantly thinner on Friday as the lawns around the historic monument and those running parallel to Kartavya Path, the parade venue, were kept out of bounds to the public citing crowd control, Delhi Police officers said on Friday evening.

But while the closing of the India Gate and Kartavya Path lawns led to a sharp decline in visitors, it also gave rise to traffic chaos as those reaching the lawns with their families and friends became confused about whether to remain in the area or move elsewhere. As a result, people started gathering at the India Gate Circle, the C-Hexagon -- some on foot, and some in their vehicles --leading to traffic snarls that lasted for four to five hours after the parade concluded, said two police officers who did not want to be named.