New Delhi | September 11, 2026
Delhi has deployed around 15,000 police personnel, 200 companies of paramilitary forces and more than 500 CCTV cameras for the two-day 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam, with temporary traffic stoppages, diversions and access restrictions expected across more than 35 roads.
The Delhi Traffic Police said there would be no citywide shutdown. However, vehicles may be stopped or released in phases as convoys carrying visiting dignitaries move between the airport, hotels, the summit venue and locations for bilateral meetings. A senior police officer said arrangements had been designed to cause “minimum inconvenience to the public” and that traffic advisories had been issued in advance.
The roads likely to be affected include Mathura Road, Sardar Patel Marg, Shanti Path, Janpath, Ashoka Road, Barakhamba Road, Tolstoy Marg, Africa Avenue Road, Niti Marg, Panchsheel Marg and APJ Abdul Kalam Road. Commuters travelling between Noida and central Delhi, east Delhi and central areas, and Dwarka or west Delhi towards Dhaula Kuan, the airport and south Delhi may face delays.
Officials said the summit could involve 70 to 80 or more high-security movements in a single day. Each movement requires separate traffic regulation, access control and coordination between agencies. A motorcade rehearsal on Wednesday evening resulted in prolonged delays, with traffic regulated at 22 diversion points between 7pm and 10pm. Around 4,800 traffic personnel have been assigned to summit-related traffic arrangements.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Delhi early Friday. China has confirmed President Xi Jinping’s participation, while other expected attendees include Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Security coverage includes the airport, hotels, Bharat Mandapam and other locations on the delegations’ itineraries. In the New Delhi zone, more than 500 cameras, including high-resolution, facial-recognition and automatic number-plate-reading systems, will provide round-the-clock surveillance through a central monitoring room. Authorities have also strengthened access control, verification, intelligence gathering and emergency response arrangements.
The Delhi Metro is scheduled to operate, although entry, exit or access at some stations may be restricted temporarily if security conditions require it. Delhi Transport Corporation and other city buses will run, but services on affected routes may be diverted, curtailed or regulated. Autos, taxis and app-based cabs will continue to operate, subject to restrictions in controlled areas. Parking will not be permitted on restricted or security-sensitive roads.
Traffic officials have coordinated with online map providers to update restrictions, diversions and alternate routes. People appearing for UPSC, NDA, CDS and other examinations, as well as those attending hospital appointments, have been advised to check routes in advance, carry required identification and allow extra travel time. Police have also asked residents to rely on official advisories and not forward unverified messages claiming a “Delhi bandh” or blanket road closures.
