Delhi – A long meandering crack along the Outer Ring Road near Badli Mor metro station caused major traffic disruption on Monday evening, leaving commuters stuck for hours during peak movement. The situation unfolded around sunset, when motorists first noticed the widening fissure running across multiple lanes of the busy route.
According to officials on site, the crack appeared due to ongoing tunnel construction work being carried out close to the metro station. Videos recorded by commuters showed the fracture stretching along the road, with branches and plants placed inside it as a temporary warning marker to prevent accidents. Traffic slowed sharply and vehicles were diverted onto narrower adjoining lanes, leading to heavy congestion across the stretch.
The incident was soon reported to the Delhi Traffic Police and Public Works Department (PWD). Police barricaded the affected portion of the road while PWD teams carried out urgent repairs. Temporary filling and reinforcement work was completed over several hours, and normal movement was restored shortly before midnight. In total, the disruption lasted nearly five hours.
The incident has raised concerns regarding road stability in high-construction zones. Commuters travelling through the Outer Ring Road corridor reported delays of more than an hour, with some vehicles forced to reroute via internal roads to bypass the slowdown.
This is not the first road-related disruption in the city in recent months. In September, a portion of a road in Janakpuri caved in due to waterlogging following heavy rain. Witnesses reported that a small hollow in the surface eventually expanded into a ten-foot-wide cavity.
Authorities have said that the Badli Mor stretch will undergo further inspection to ensure no additional structural weakness exists beneath the surface. Commuters have been advised to drive cautiously and follow lane diversions until all safety checks are completed.
