Obama visit: Delhi may face traffic chaos on Monday

Brace up for traffic chaos on Monday when US President Barack Obama will be criss-crossing the Delhi streets during his visit here.

Obama will have a hectic schedule starting from his ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan to his visit to Rajghat and other engagements including his talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and address to Parliament.

"There could be traffic congestion on some routes for a particular period of time. Traffic could be affected on the routes taken by Obama," Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police (traffic), told reporters here.

There could be traffic restrictions on Monday between 8am and 10pm on the routes, he said.

"We appeal people to avoid Rajghat and Delhi Gate in the morning hours while there could be some VVIP movement near India Gate around noon," he said.

Both the carriageways leading from the airport to Maurya Sheraton where Obama is staying will be closed for public traffic when the president's cavalcade is moving, he said.

"This is not the first time we are closing both the carriageways. Earlier when Pakistan's president and Israel's prime minister visited the city, we resorted to such a practice. This is part of security," Garg said.