The first day of 2024 brought Lucknow to a virtual standstill, as an unprecedented surge of residents and devotees took to the streets for celebrations, temple visits, and leisure outings, overwhelming the city's traffic infrastructure.
Devotional Fervour Amplifies Congestion
The city's traffic woes were significantly compounded by massive gatherings at major temples. At Hanumant Dham in Hazratganj, the line of devotees stretched for more than one kilometre as people waited for darshan. The rush was particularly intense due to the culmination of an 11-month-long strict fast observed by the temple's mahant, Brijesh Maharaj, which drew thousands of his followers. A similar scene unfolded at the Chandrika Devi temple in Bakshi-Ka-Talab, where crowds began assembling long before sunrise.
Citywide Celebrations and Crawling Traffic
Beyond the temples, the entire city buzzed with New Year activities. Popular spots like Rashtriya Prerna Sthal, Ambedkar Memorial Park, Janeshwar Mishra Park, Bada Imambara, Ghantaghar, and the zoo reported exceptionally heavy footfall. Parks, hotels, and residential societies were also centres of celebration, while flower markets did brisk business, adding to the roadside clutter.
Despite proactive measures by the traffic police, including diversions on arterial routes and the creation of designated parking zones near key locations, movement remained painfully slow throughout the day. Authorities had warned that vehicles parked outside notified areas would be penalised, but the sheer volume of traffic rendered management a Herculean task.
Major Snarls and Public Frustration
Several key stretches experienced near-standstill conditions. Severe congestion was reported on the road from Sikanderabad Chauraha towards Nishatganj and Mahanagar, which remained clogged for hours. Long traffic queues, extending close to 3 kilometres, were also seen at Shaheed Smarak, Daliganj, and Swasthya Bhawan chauraha. Other badly affected areas included IIM Road, Basant Kunj, the Medical College vicinity, and the area near Dariya Wali Masjid.
The gridlock took a heavy toll on commuters and workers alike. Rakesh Singh, an office-goer, lamented taking nearly two hours to cover a mere 2 kilometres. Gomtinagar resident Neha Sharma expressed her frustration after a promised park visit with her children turned into a morning trapped in traffic. The chaos severely impacted gig economy workers, with food delivery rider Ankit Verma from Chowk stating he couldn't deliver a single order on time due to the impossible road conditions.
Senior police officers acknowledged that while personnel were deployed at multiple intersections, managing the unprecedented rush was challenging. Normal traffic flow was only restored by late evening, marking an exhausting start to the New Year for Lucknow's citizens and its traffic management teams.
