Delhi Metro will begin services at 6 a.m. on Sunday, September 13, across all corridors during the BRICS summit, while all stations will remain open amid security restrictions and traffic diversions in the capital, according to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), as reported by Live Hindustan.
The earlier start is intended to support students appearing for examinations and other passengers travelling during the summit. On Sundays, services on the Pink, Magenta and Grey lines generally begin at 7 a.m. The DMRC has advised passengers to plan journeys in line with traffic restrictions expected in several parts of Delhi.
Metro services will otherwise continue as normal, with all stations remaining open until further orders. However, the Delhi Metro Museum at the Supreme Court station will remain closed through September 13. It will also remain shut on September 14, its weekly holiday, and is scheduled to reopen to visitors on Tuesday, September 15.
The BRICS summit is being held in Delhi from September 11 to 13. Security arrangements have been intensified around Bharat Mandapam, airports, hotels and other locations expected to be visited by delegates. Police have also introduced traffic diversions in parts of the city during the summit period.
Several public sites will remain closed. Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum and Amrit Udyan will not be open to visitors from Friday through September 13. The Change of Guard ceremony scheduled at the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt on Saturday will also not take place.
Markets in the capital are expected to remain open, including Connaught Place, Khan Market, Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazaar and Sarojini Nagar. Representatives of market associations cited normal movement and the expected arrival of foreign visitors while confirming that shops would operate. Traders have advised customers to follow traffic directions during the summit.
Air operations will also face special restrictions. According to the report, flight movements from Indira Gandhi International Airport and other airports within a 300-kilometre radius of Delhi will be regulated, with exemptions for scheduled airline services, approved flights linked to BRICS delegates, military and security agencies, emergency medical evacuation, and aircraft carrying state governors or chief ministers after the required permissions.
Safdarjung Airport and the Rohini helipad will remain closed during the summit. Exceptions will apply to certain Indian Air Force and National Security Guard helicopters deployed for emergency or VIP duties. The metro’s early opening on September 13 and the continued operation of all stations are the main public-transport measures announced for passengers during the summit period.
