Vehicles moved at snail's pace down the Madhya Marg and those coming from Panchkula were diverted towards Industrial Area from the Transport Chowk. Vehicles crept bumper-to-bumper with the back-up extending to half-a-kilometre at some places.

Other points where the traffic was severely jammed included the ISBT roundabout, Sector 20/21 traffic lights and Sector 22/23 roundabout. Absence of Traffic Police personnel at most points made matters worse. According to police sources, almost the entire force was deployed around the Parade Grounds, the venue for the PM's rally. Traffic Superintendent of Police Balbir Singh was not available for comments.