Shoppers choke roads on Dhanteras

Markets were crowded, roads were jam-packed and traffic virtually stood still when Delhiites went about shopping on the occasion of Dhanteras on Wednesday evening.

"Major traffic jams were reported from Pitampura, Rohini, Badarpur, R.K. Puram, Lajpat Nagar, Chirag Dilli, Yusuf Sarai, Malviya Nagar and Sarai Kale Khan," said a traffic police official.

Metro stations and trains near major markets were overflowing with commuters in the evening as people went shopping on what is considered by Hindus as an auspicious day to spend money on household items.

"I dragged through the traffic at first gear for quite a long stretch from AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) to Dhaula Kuan," said Ankit Varshney, a software consultant.

Traffic situation is expected to get even more troublesome for the commuters in the coming days with Diwali shoppers hitting the road ahead of the festival of lights Friday and Bhai Duj Sunday.