Central Delhi is in for a crowded Sunday. The opposition INDIA bloc is holding its "Chalo Dilli" rally at Ramlila Maidan today, November 1, from 10 am to 5 pm, to protest against what it calls irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Delhi Traffic Police has announced restrictions and diversions across a large part of the city centre for the same hours.
If you are travelling near ITO, Delhi Gate, Minto Road or New Delhi Railway Station today, here is what you need to know before you step out.
Why the INDIA bloc is rallying
The Congress-led alliance has been campaigning for weeks against the SIR exercise, alleging large-scale voter deletions and describing it as "vote chori". The bloc is demanding that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar step down and has taken its complaints to President Droupadi Murmu and to the Supreme Court.
On Saturday, opposition leaders staged a symbolic "public impeachment" of the CEC at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence, led by former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar. Today's rally is meant to be the show of strength that follows. Organisers have claimed up to 10 lakh people could turn up, while Delhi Police has estimated a crowd of around 50,000. The ground itself holds roughly 30,000 to 40,000 people once chairs and barricades are in place, so space outside has been set aside for overflow.
Delhi traffic advisory: roads likely to be affected
Traffic will be regulated between 10 am and 5 pm. Commuters have been advised to avoid these stretches if possible:
- Bahadur Shah Zafar (BSZ) Marg
- Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Marg
- Aruna Asaf Ali Road
- Minto Road
- Desh Bandhu Gupta (DBG) Road
- KG Marg-Firoz Shah Road
- Chelmsford Road
- Ranjeet Singh Flyover towards Turkman Gate
- Barakhamba Road towards Mandi House roundabout
- Sikandra Road
Diversion points
Police may divert traffic at Netaji Subhash Marg T-Point, Rajghat, Delhi Gate, ITO A-Point, Ajmeri Gate red light, Ranjeet Singh Flyover, the Bhavbhuti Marg-DDU Marg red light, Jhandewalan roundabout, Turkman Gate and Mirdard Chowk.
How to reach New Delhi Railway Station
Train passengers are the group most likely to be caught out. The advisory suggests these alternatives:
- From DBG Road side: take Chelmsford Road, the Outer Circle of Connaught Place, Minto Road and Bhavbhuti Marg.
- From East Delhi: go via ITO, DDU Marg and Bhavbhuti Marg to reach the Ajmeri Gate side.
- If DDU Marg is blocked: use ITO red light, W-Point, Sikandra Road, Connaught Place, Paharganj and Chelmsford Road.
Leave extra time, and wherever possible use the Metro, which police have recommended as the best option today. DTC bus movement may also be regulated on BSZ Marg, the Rajghat to JLN Marg stretch, DBG Road and Minto Road. Ambulances and emergency vehicles heading to LNJP and GB Pant hospitals will be allowed through.
Quick facts
| Event | INDIA bloc "Chalo Dilli" rally |
| Venue | Ramlila Maidan, Delhi |
| Date and time | Sunday, November 1, 2026, 10 am to 5 pm |
| Main demand | Accountability over SIR; resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar |
| Security | 4,000+ police and CAPF personnel, 14 zones, 200+ CCTV cameras, drones |
| Traffic helpline | 1095, 011-25844444, WhatsApp 8750871493 |
Security and the rules for organisers
The venue has been split into 14 zones, each supervised by an officer of assistant commissioner rank, with more than 200 CCTV cameras, drones and body-worn cameras feeding a control room on site. Delhi Police granted only conditional permission. The rally must wrap up by 5 pm, overnight stays are banned, speeches that could disturb communal harmony are prohibited, and marches from the ground to other locations are not allowed.
There is one grey area. The bloc has announced a march starting at noon from the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction, with leaders including Kharge expected to travel by open bus. Police have said they had not received an application for that march, so expect a heavy police presence around Connaught Place around midday.
What it means and what happens next
Politically, the rally is a test of whether the opposition can turn its SIR campaign into a mass movement ahead of the 2027 round of Assembly elections. The BJP has planned its own padyatras on the same day to counter the message, so both sides will be watching the turnout numbers closely. The Supreme Court is already examining complaints about Form 7 objections in Uttar Pradesh, and any fresh announcement from the stage on legal or street action will shape the next few weeks of national politics.
For commuters, the simple advice is to avoid the Ramlila Maidan, ITO and Minto Road belt until evening and keep the helpline numbers handy.
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