People and commuters in the capital dealt with huge transit delays this morning as Central Delhi became a jam of vehicles. The congestion was caused by two factors: relentless light rain that started in the early hours and broad cordons arranged for the Full-Dress Rehearsal of the 2026 Republic Day Parade.
Talkatora Road Under Pressure
This was one of the worst stretches, it was Talkatora Road where traffic was bumper-to-bumper for several kilometers. While the Delhi Police have diverted traffic away from the parade route and the high-security Rajpath (Kartavya Path) area, secondary arterial roads Talkatora, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, and Minto Road are in general suffering more diverted traffic.
Short clips of the scene depicted long lines of buses, private cars, and autorickshaws on the water-logged roads passing through water-logged patches and temporary barriers with no exits from the blocked paths. Office-goers reported 45–60 min delays for distances that typically go by in 15 minutes.
#WATCH | Delhi | Traffic snarls witnessed at Talkatora Road
— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2026
The city has been receiving light rain since morning. A few roads in Central Delhi were cordoned off for the full-dress rehearsal of Republic Day. pic.twitter.com/Tn7BAYkgDu
The Weather Factor
Making matters worse in terms of logistics was the weather. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had anticipated light rain on the weekend, and the rain began early Friday. The rain was a temporary relief in the city’s air pollution but caused slippery roads and small pools of water in low elevations. As a result, traffic slowed to a crawl, especially at important intersections where personnel were manually navigating traffic signals to prioritize rehearsal convoys.
Republic Day rehearsal on Security Cordon
The main reason for the restricted movement was a mandatory full-dress rehearsal for Republic Day. The Delhi Police cordoned off several sectors with the aim of ensuring participant safety and enabling the tableaux and marching contingents to remain free from harm:
- Kartavya Path: Completely closed from Vijay Chowk to India Gate.
- North and South Blocks: Only authorized vehicles have access.
- Connaught Place: Traffic has been rerouted in Inner and Outer circles due to intense congestion of peripheral traffic.
Earlier, the Delhi Traffic Police had issued a social media alert exhorting its citizens to take the Delhi Metro to avoid the congestion. "The Metro is still the preferred transport mode today as surface roads are already occupied, preparing for national public safety measures," said a senior traffic official.
Looking Ahead
The rehearsal may end and traffic should ease slightly, but with the current weather on track the evening rush hour could still be packed. Authorities have said similar restrictions will be in action on January 26 and residents are advised to monitor official traffic handles closely for immediate information. For those heading toward the New Delhi Railway Station or the IGI Airport, an additional buffer time of at least one hour is advisable.
