LUCKNOW, Feb. 18 -- Heavy traffic congestion across the city on Tuesday left many commuters stranded for hours, causing delays for officegoers and students, with some even missing important exams. The busiest stretch was Ayodhya Road, where traffic came to a standstill throughout the day following the closure of the Matiyari flyover for repair work. Hazratganj, the heart of Lucknow, also saw long snarls as police enforced traffic restrictions for the first day of the Uttar Pradesh assembly's budget session.

Gaurav Singh, 19, and Surya Dev, 20, on their way to Agra for an SSC (Staff Selection Commission) GD (general duty) exam, missed their train from Lucknow's Charbagh station due to congestion on Ayodhya Road. "We started from Kaisergan...