As Delhi gears up to host the India-AI Impact Summit from February 16 to 20, the city’s traffic authorities have engaged school administrations in the vicinity as part of their plan to handle expected
disruptions from heavy VVIP movement in and around Bharat Mandapam.
The five-day event is expected to draw thousands of delegates from over 30 countries, with plans to mobilise more than 10,000 police personnel for security arrangements.
According to a report in Times Of India, the traffic management strategy focuses on 34 schools within a 5-km radius of the venue, of which 10 will serve as Board exam centres for nearly 3,000 students.
Dedicated nodal officers from the Education Department and Delhi Traffic Police will reportedly work with schools to manage movement and ensure students reach on time despite diversions.
Officials have prepared alternative routes and diversions to minimise delays, advising drivers to use corridors like Ring Road, Sarai Kale Khan-Ashram, and Lala Lajpat Rai Marg in place of usual central city routes.
The changes extend beyond school areas, influencing roads near prominent hotels where summit delegates are expected to stay, the report added.
Some schools are reportedly considering online classes during the summit to avoid travel complications, while others are informing parents and transport staff of the new traffic plans to reduce confusion.
“Security deployment began nearly a week ahead of the event to allow adequate familiarisation with routes, venues and standard operating procedures. The Delhi Police has also constituted a specially designed AI Impact Summit Cell to ensure seamless coordination among various units and agencies involved in the security exercise,” news agency PTI quoted a police official familiar with the arrangements as saying.
Given the high-profile nature of the event, access to the venue will be strictly regulated through QR code passes issued to only accredited delegates and staff.
The Delhi Traffic Police will post about traffic diversions time to time on their social media handles.
“Traffic management will be a key focus area during the summit. Nearly 5,000 traffic police personnel will be deployed to ensure smooth vehicular movement and to manage diversions. Special arrangements have also been made for emergency medical response. Police said that several ambulances will remain on standby along VVIP movement routes at all times,” the officer said.
