Archive · 11 Sep 2026
New Delhi Traffic Disruptions Grow Ahead of BRICS Summit
New Delhi is getting ready to host an important BRICS meeting.
Leaders from several countries are expected to attend.
Police have placed barricades and checkpoints around important parts of the city.
Some roads are closed or have special traffic rules.
Schools, offices and many businesses were closed to reduce traffic.
Even so, many workers are having trouble reaching their jobs.
Drivers say longer routes and traffic jams are hurting their earnings.
Officials say the restrictions are needed to keep the summit safe and organized.
Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across New Delhi before the BRICS summit.
Barricades, checkpoints, road closures and traffic curbs disrupted travel across major parts of the city.
Authorities declared a public holiday and urged residents to work from home where possible.
Workers, delivery drivers and taxi drivers reported detours, higher fares and lost earning opportunities.
Leaders including Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Masoud Pezeshkian are expected at the summit Saturday and Sunday.
- Who
- New Delhi authorities, residents, workers and visiting leaders from BRICS countries are involved.
- What
- The city imposed extensive security and traffic restrictions ahead of the BRICS summit.
- When
- Restrictions began before the summit, which is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday; thousands of personnel were deployed Friday.
- Where
- Across New Delhi, particularly around major roads and key areas.
- Why
- Authorities said the measures were necessary to secure and smoothly conduct the gathering of world leaders.
Residents’ Concerns
Authorities’ Position
Need for traffic restrictions
Residents’ Concerns
Residents and drivers said changing restrictions, road closures and long detours were disrupting daily life and hurting workers’ incomes.
Authorities’ Position
Officials said the restrictions were necessary to ensure the summit runs smoothly and to control movement during the security operation.
Impact on workers
Residents’ Concerns
Office workers, delivery drivers and daily wage earners said they still needed to travel and could lose several days of work.
Authorities’ Position
Authorities urged people to work from home where possible, plan journeys in advance and follow official traffic advisories.
Hosting international leaders
Residents’ Concerns
Residents said security arrangements should not create trouble for the public and foreign delegates alike.
Authorities’ Position
The government imposed closures and a public holiday to reduce traffic and give security agencies greater control over movement.
- Event
- BRICS summit
- Location
- New Delhi, India
- Summit dates
- Saturday and Sunday
- Security deployment
- Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel
- Traffic measures
- Barricades, checkpoints, road closures, diversions and traffic curbs
- Public response
- Residents reported confusion, difficult commutes, higher taxi fares and lost work opportunities
- Government response
- Authorities declared a public holiday and encouraged remote work where possible