LUCKNOW, Nov. 7 -- Despite a detailed traffic plan involving 13 route restrictions, additional police deployment, designated parking spaces and no-stopping zones, Lucknow's roads remained congested during the Dhanteras rush, with traffic spilling from major markets into residential lanes. The situation improved marginally on Saturday, but vehicles continued to move at a slow pace on several stretches.

Nearly 9,000 new vehicles reportedly purchased on Dhanteras may have added to the pressure on the city's roads, although the figure alone does not explain the gridlock. UP Adarsh Vyapar Mandal state president Sanjay Gupta said the automobile sector was expecting retail sales of around 6,000 two-wheelers and 3,000 cars, reflecting robust con...