Delhi commuters travelling through central and south Delhi, heading to the airport or planning a railway journey will need to factor in extra travel time from Friday afternoon as traffic diversions linked to the BRICS Summit take effect.
The Delhi Traffic Police has announced traffic regulation and diversions from 2 pm to 8:30 pm on Friday, September 11, as the BRICS Summit begins at in Pragati Maidan. The high-profile summit will run from September 11 to 13, bringing foreign leaders and delegations to the national capital.
More than 35 roads have been identified for regulated movement, while 22 diversion points have been designated across Delhi. The restrictions are linked to security arrangements and the movement of foreign delegations and VVIP convoys. Delhi Police has deployed nearly 4,800 traffic personnel for summit arrangements.
The city, however, will not face a complete shutdown. The bigger challenge for commuters could be uncertainty.
may be stopped or diverted at short notice during VVIP movement, meaning a route that appears open could temporarily be restricted when a motorcade approaches. Such stoppages can also create congestion on connecting roads as diverted vehicles move to alternative corridors.
Among the roads listed in the traffic plan are Sardar Patel Marg, Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Akbar Road, Tees January Marg, Rajesh Pilot Marg, Subramaniam Bharti Marg, Mathura Road, Moti Lal Nehru Marg, Dr Zakir Hussain Marg, Brig Hoshiyar Singh Marg, Africa Avenue Road, Satya Marg, Shanti Path, Janpath, Ashoka Road, Barakhamba Road, Tolstoy Marg, Ranjeet Singh Flyover, Niti Marg, Panchsheel Marg, Kemal Ataturk Marg, APJ Abdul Kalam Road, Press Enclave Road, Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, Josef Broz Tito Marg and Lala Lajpat Rai Marg.
The 22 diversion points include key locations around Connaught Place, Patel Chowk, Dhaula Kuan, Moti Bagh, Lodhi Road, Neela Gumbad, the Oberoi Flyover, Mathura Road, Bhairon Road and .
At Dhaula Kuan, traffic towards Sardar Patel Marg will be restricted, with vehicles diverted through Ring Road or Vande Mataram Marg depending on their destination. At Moti Bagh Flyover, movement towards Shanti Path will be regulated and traffic will be diverted towards Ring Road and Rao Tula Ram Marg. Restrictions have also been planned at multiple intersections along Lodhi Road.
The traffic police has strongly recommended the Metro for airport-bound passengers during the advisory window. Metro services are expected to remain operational, though commuters have been advised to monitor official updates.
Those travelling by road to from Gurugram can use NH-48 and designated service roads, while travellers from Dwarka have been advised to use the Sector-22 Dwarka Road and UER-II corridor. Alternative routes have also been outlined for passengers travelling from south Delhi, west Delhi and north and east Delhi.
Commuters heading to , Old Delhi Railway Station and Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station have also been given alternate corridors, including routes through ISBT Kashmiri Gate, Boulevard Road, Rani Jhansi Marg, Ring Road and Mathura Road.
The wider impact may extend beyond roads immediately surrounding Bharat Mandapam. Commuters travelling between Noida and central Delhi, east Delhi and central areas, or from Dwarka and west Delhi towards Dhaula Kuan, the airport and south Delhi could face longer journeys as traffic is pushed onto connecting routes.
Emergency and medical vehicles will continue to receive priority passage, while essential services and supplies will remain operational. Non-destined commercial vehicles, however, will not be allowed to enter Delhi.
Motorists have also been asked to avoid roadside parking near controlled corridors. Parking within 200 metres of controlled roads is prohibited except in designated areas.
For commuters, the advice is straightforward: do not rely entirely on the usual route. Check the latest updates before leaving, follow directions at diversion points and keep significant extra time in hand. During VVIP movement, the quickest route on an ordinary day may not remain the quickest one tomorrow.
