Congestion on the Delhi-Haridwar Expressway in Haridwar on Sunday (August 9, 2026), due to the ongoing Kanwar Yatra.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Kanwar Yatra, or the annual pilgrimage of people from the Ganges River to their local temples, is underway and will conclude on Tuesday (August 11, 2026).The festive pilgrimage began on July 30 and will conclude on August 11, 2026 on the day of Shivratri.U.P. CM Yogi showers flowers on Kanwariyas, describes Kanwar Yatra as unparalleled example of devotion, unity Owing to the heavy pedestrian and pilgrimage traffic, specific advisories have been issued by authorities to ease commute of citizens, especially in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Haryana.Here’s your guide to what’s open and what’s closed.Region/StateAffected areas and restrictionsDuration of restrictionsRecommended Alternate RoutesDelhi• Kalindi Kunj junction, Okhla Barrage road, Noida–Kalindi Kunj road, and Okhla Bird Sanctuary • GT Road (Apsara Border to Yamuna Bridge) closed for general trafficAugust 11–12, 2026• Avoid Kalindi Kunj, GT Road, and Wazirabad Road. • Use designated alternate corridors like NH-9 and NH-44.Gurugram (Haryana)• Heavy vehicle movement entering Delhi via Haridwar return paths • Travel corridors toward Rajasthan, Jhajjar, Rewari, Pataudi, Nuh, and FaridabadAugust 9 – 11, 2026• Use Dwarka Expressway. • Use KMP Expressway via Panchgaon Chowk.Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh)• Delhi-Meerut Expressway (DME) • Heavy pilgrim traffic on NH-58 / Delhi-Meerut routeAugust 9 – 12, 2026•Use NH-09 as primary alternative route • Siddharth Vihar to Meerut Tiraha: Take NH-09, Vijayanagar Cut, Overbridge, and Chaudhary Mod.Delhi The Delhi Traffic Police, in a post on X on August 10, 2026, said that “traffic congestion is likely on Kalindi Kunj junction, Okhla Barrage road, Noida, Kalindi Kunj-Noida road and the connecting roads towards Okhla Bird Sanctuary.” It especially warned commuters not to use the routes leading through Kalindi Kunj junction, to plan commutes in advance and to allow sufficient additional travel time.Delhi CM assures kanwariyas will not face any difficultiesTRAFFIC ADVISORYTraffic movement in and around Kalindi Kunj Junction is likely to remain slow and congested till 12.08.2026 due to heavy movement of Kanwariyas during the ongoing Kanwar Yatra and ongoing road repair work on the Okhla Barrage–Kalindi Kunj stretch.📍ADVISORY… pic.twitter.com/dzqYI092mO— Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) August 9, 2026Gurugram, HaryanaGurugram traffic police, on August 8, detailed alternate routes for heavy vehicles to take to enter the national capital of Delhi owing to the ‘Kanwar Yatra’ pilgrimage and the return of the ‘kanwariyas’ from Haridwar.School van vandalised in Lucknow allegedly by Kanwariyas It asked commuters to “use Dwarka and KMP expressway via Panchgaon Chowk” as travel corridors to Rajasthan, Jhajjar, Rewari, Pataudi, Nuh, and Faridabad may also be affected.This advisory is in effect till August 11, 2026 and the traffic police also attached maps for easy referencing for citizens.Heavy Vehicle Advisory (9–11 Aug)Kanwariyas return from Haridwar for jalabhishek on Mahashivratri, 11 Aug.· Use Dwarka & KMP Expressway via Panchgaon Chowk· For Rajasthan, Jhajjar, Rewari, Pataudi, Nuh, Faridabad📞 112 | 1095#TrafficAdvisory#KMPExpressway#RoadSafetypic.twitter.com/QNABiSDIuF— Gurugram Traffic Police (@TrafficGGM) August 8, 2026Ghaziabad, Uttar PradeshGhaziabad in Uttar Pradesh is also under a traffic advisory by the traffic police. An X post, with a video by Varun Kumar Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said that “For the safe movement of Kanwar devotees, the Delhi-Meerut Expressway (DME) will be restricted for general traffic on August 10 and 11, 2026.” It added that: In view of the large number of Kanwar pilgrims on NH-58/Delhi-Meerut route, use Rapid Metro (RRTS) and public transport instead of private vehicles, and use NH-09 as much as possible.Traffic curbs for Kanwar Yatra in U.P.’s Muzaffarnagar till August 12Vehicles coming from Siddharth Vihar to Meerut Tiraha should use NH-09, Vijayanagar Cut, Overbridge, and Chaudhary Mod.” It advised locals to use NH-09 instead for commuting. — Ghaziabad Traffic Police (@Gzbtrafficpol) August 9, 2026What is Kanwar Yatra?Kanwar Yatra is an annual pilgrimage where devotees of Lord Shiva collect holy water from the Ganges River from places like Haridawar, Gangotri, Gaumukh, or Sultanganj and take it to their local temples, often walking barefoot for long distances.It occurs during July-August, depending on the Hindu calendar month of ‘Shravan.’ Published - August 10, 2026 08:22 am IST
