Going round in circles: Delhi's historic roundabouts become traffic nightmares

Rishi Kumar describes his daily commute to central Delhi as a "slow-motion whirlpool of traffic," a frustration shared by millions navigating the increasingly gridlocked roundabouts across Indian cities. These once-elegant features of urban planning, particularly in areas like Lutyens' Delhi, have transformed into significant traffic bottlenecks, testing drivers' patience and causing unpredictable delays.

“

These roundabouts in Lutyens’ Delhi really test my patience and my driving skills, and cause unexpected delays in reaching office. They are beautiful, but they are also big traffic bottlenecks now.

The fundamental rule of roundabouts, giving right of way to traffic already inside the circle, is often disregarded. Cars and auto-rickshaws cut across lanes, two-wheelers weave between larger vehicles, and drivers entering the circle push forward, forcing those inside to brake abruptly. This chaos quickly leads to the entire junction locking up, negating the intended smooth flow.

Originally conceived by urban planners like Edwin Lutyens in New Delhi, Le Corbusier in Chandigarh, and integrated into Gandhinagar's design, roundabouts were meant to ensure efficient movement, slow vehicles without traffic lights, and provide cities with a distinct identity. However, these junctions were designed decades ago when private vehicle ownership was significantly lower, and roads primarily carried buses, bicycles, and a modest number of cars. Today's traffic volumes far exceed original projections.

“

The problem is many of them have not evolved in accordance with changing traffic volume and pattern.

A survey of 39 roundabouts in New Delhi highlighted issues such as disproportionate road widths, misaligned footpaths, oversized plantation spaces, and narrow diameters contributing to traffic squeeze and bottlenecks. Five specific roundabouts were identified as the worst affected. Experts like architect Goonmeet Singh Chauhan argue that while roundabouts remain effective intersection types, many have failed to evolve with changing traffic patterns. Urbanist Dikshu Kukreja suggests that while some junctions require redesigning for higher volumes and safety, heritage areas should prioritize retaining spatial character while selectively improving geometry.

“

Roundabouts have unfortunately become an easy target in discussions around congestion, but I believe the issue is more nuanced.