LUCKNOW, April 28 -- A new set of traffic diversions introduced by the Lucknow traffic department to ease congestion on Ayodhya Road and near the new high court led to severe gridlocks on Monday, bringing traffic to and fro to a standstill from Kamta Crossing to Polytechnic Crossing.

The diversions, which came into effect on Monday morning, were announced a day earlier through a public statement by the Lucknow Police. Authorities said the changes were made in coordination with the public works department to reduce traffic pressure at Kamta. However, heavy vehicle pileups were reported across major points including Kamta, Chinhat, IGP, and Polytechnic Crossings, causing widespread disruption.

Explaining the reason behind the diversion, a...