Key Facts
Emergency repair work on a damaged Delhi Jal Board (DJB) pipeline near Ashram Chowk has thrown traffic into chaos in parts of east and southeast Delhi. The 1,200 mm diameter pipeline burst, prompting authorities to close a key Ring Road stretch for three to four days starting Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
Details of the Traffic Disruption
According to the Delhi Traffic police advisory, the Ring Road stretch between Maharani Bagh and Ashram Chowk is closed for repair work. This has severely impacted traffic on multiple routes:
- Ring Road from Sarai Kale Khan towards Ashram Chowk
- Ring Road from DND Flyway towards Ashram Chowk
- Traffic merging from CV Raman Marg onto Ring Road
Commuters travelling towards Ashram Chowk, Faridabad, Noida, and adjoining areas are the worst affected. A commuter reported that a two-kilometre stretch from Eastern Avenue turning into Maharani Bagh till Mata Mandir in New Friends Colony took over two hours to cover.
Impact on Commuters
Hour-long snarls dominated major parts of the city. Social media was flooded with complaints from helpless commuters, who received tepid responses from traffic police. One 34-year-old commuter said, An ambulance was stuck, people got out of their cars and just decided to walk. There was barely any police presence, and even the few police personnel who were there had no idea what to do.
Police Response and Diversions
A senior police officer stated, We have used Okhla Mandi Road and Barapullah as diversions. However, since the traffic has been affected during peak hours, we have deployed more traffic personnel around Ashram and DND to help commuters. Mathura Road is also open. For today, traffic will be cleared by 3pm to 4pm.
However, there was little clarity on why extra deployment was not done earlier.
What Readers Should Know
The repair work is expected to last three to four days, meaning traffic will remain severely affected through the week. Commuters are advised to avoid the affected stretches, use alternative routes like Mathura Road, Okhla Mandi Road, and Barapullah, and plan extra travel time. The lack of coordination between departments has been criticised, with many questioning the preparedness of the Delhi Traffic police.
FAQ
Why is there a traffic jam near Ashram Chowk?
Emergency repair work on a damaged 1,200 mm Delhi Jal Board pipeline near Ashram Chowk has forced closure of the Ring Road stretch between Maharani Bagh and Ashram for three to four days.
Which routes are affected?
Ring Road from Sarai Kale Khan towards Ashram, from DND Flyway towards Ashram, and traffic merging from CV Raman Marg onto Ring Road are impacted. Diversions via Okhla Mandi Road and Barapullah are in place.
How long will the traffic disruption last?
The repair work is expected to take three to four days, meaning traffic will remain affected through the week.
What should commuters do?
Avoid the affected stretches, use alternative routes like Mathura Road, Okhla Mandi Road, and Barapullah, and plan extra travel time.