Traffic jam in Okhla has long been a persistent problem for the residents. Taking note of this, Zakir Nagar Councillor Nazia Danish visited Batla House outer road on Friday, accompanied by her team and a police official. She announced plans to tackle the issue and promised a new strategy to end the ongoing Okhla traffic jam, bringing relief from traffic nightmare to Batla House residents.
One of the main causes of the jam is bikers coming from Okhla Head who drive on the wrong side of the road to avoid a longer route, as there is no designated turning point in the middle. While interacting with the OT during one of her such visit, Nazia said: “The biggest problem in our area is traffic jams. The most important point is that traffic coming from Batla House graveyard towards the university or Holy Family Hospital has to go the wrong way towards Batla House.” Okhla traffic jam is a menace.
She said vehicles coming from Khalilullah Masjid have no proper turn and are forced to take a long detour, adding further to the traffic jam with residents complaining that it leads to chaos on the road with other residents spending hours on road and 10-minute journey takes more than 30 minutes or event 45 minutes to cover.
Tajuddin said Okhla traffic jam should come to an end and the wrong-side vehicle drivers are a big nuisance in Jamia Nagar.
Nazia had come on inspection with traffic official also. She said: “We have put forth our suggestion to the traffic department: if the divider in front of Okhla is removed and a U-turn is provided here, it can greatly ease traffic congestion. People won’t have to go the wrong way, and it will also save time.”
Highlighting a key concern related to Okhla traffic jam, she pointed out the absence of traffic police in Jamia Nagar is another major issue. “You must have seen that traffic police are only present during festivals or special occasions, like university exams. Otherwise, they are rarely seen. I appeal to all residents, through your channel, to cooperate in resolving these traffic issues.”
She said earlier in the day, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) was also present on a field visit. According to Nazia, he understood our problem on the ground and assured us that they will soon find a solution so that residents don’t have to suffer from Okhla traffic jam anymore.
One of the most alarming aspects of the ongoing issue is the frequent blocking of ambulances in traffic. “In Jamia Nagar area, ambulances often get stuck. Even today, one was trying to get through but got caught in the jam,” she said, while helping ensure the vehicle could move forward.
With a new traffic signal recently installed near Jamia Millia Islamia, hopes are high that similar infrastructure will be brought to Batla House and Okhla Village. “It is very important that a signal is installed here as well. People are suffering due to constant jams,” she said, adding that this could bring relief from Okhla traffic jam for residents of Jamia Nagar.
Today’s visit by officials, accompanied by local leaders, comes as part of a wider push to bring relief to an area long plagued by unregulated traffic, limited road infrastructure, and lack of enforcement. Residents now await concrete steps from authorities, driven by the Councillor’s consistent engagement.
Traffic congestion has been a long-standing issue in the area, and despite several efforts, it remains unresolved, said Mohsin, a daily commuter on the route. “The stretch from Okhla Head to Batla House and further towards Jamia Millia Islamia is particularly dangerous because traffic jams can occur at any moment. Often, the biggest contributors are bikers and vehicles coming from the wrong side,” he said.
During festivals like Ramzan, Md Saghir and his team worked from 5 PM onwards to ensure residents could reach home in time to break their fast. “The biggest challenge is stopping bikers coming from Okhla Head on the wrong side and then taking a right turn towards Muradi Road. Our repeated efforts to convince them have failed. They only stop when they see our volunteers or the police. Sometimes, they even get aggressive and pick fights with us,” he said.
“It has been observed that as soon as traffic volunteers are removed, bikers coming from the wrong side get a free hand, causing complete chaos on the road,” said a resident.
The resident added that during the Assembly elections, Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan had deployed his volunteers to manage traffic in the overcrowded Batla House area. However, once the elections were over and he secured his third consecutive win from Okhla, the volunteers disappeared, and the traffic situation has returned to how it was earlier,” the resident said, requesting anonymity.
Apart from Batla House, the other two major traffic bottlenecks in Jamia Nagar are Okhla Head and the Ghaffar Manzil entry point near Jamia Millia Islamia. These spots also contribute significantly to traffic problems, primarily due to people driving on the wrong side in a rush to reach their destinations.
