With the national capital bracing for major traffic restrictions during the BRICS Summit, the Narendra Modi government is making a push to ensure that the movement of its own ministers and chief ministers causes
minimum inconvenience to the public.
As part of the arrangement, Union ministers and chief ministers attending the summit from September 12-13 will assemble at Parliament and travel together to the summit venue in a common bus, instead of using multiple individual VIP convoys.
The move is aimed at reducing the number of security and escort convoys on Delhi roads and limiting the traffic disruption that typically accompanies the movement of several VIPs at the same time. The message from the government is clear—VIP movement should cause the least possible inconvenience to ordinary commuters.
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The arrangement is also being seen as a move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s team to lead by example at a time when the city is preparing for heightened security and extensive traffic management for the summit.
Delhi is expected to witness significant traffic restrictions and diversions as foreign leaders and delegations travel between their hotels and Bharat Mandapam, where the summit is being held. Authorities have planned controlled traffic arrangements and diversion points across key stretches of the capital. Commuters travelling towards the airport and railway stations have been advised to factor in additional travel time, while the Metro is being recommended as a more reliable option on several routes.
The security arrangements are particularly elaborate because the summit will bring several high-profile leaders to the capital, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Around 30,000 security personnel are being deployed for the summit, with heightened security around diplomatic and hotel zones.
The VIP movements themselves are expected to be a major factor behind traffic disruptions. Even brief road closures to allow foreign leaders’ motorcades to pass can create knock-on congestion on adjoining routes.
Against that backdrop, the decision to club the movement of Indian ministers and chief ministers into a single bus is intended to prevent a proliferation of domestic VIP convoys on roads already under pressure because of the summit.
Delhi Traffic Under Pressure
The summit-related restrictions are being implemented across several important corridors, with authorities warning commuters about diversions and unpredictable delays. Delhi will not be under a complete shutdown, but traffic movement around controlled areas can be affected at short notice depending on the movement of dignitaries.
Restrictions are also being coordinated with neighbouring areas. For instance, Noida has imposed restrictions on the movement of goods vehicles entering Delhi through routes including Chilla, DND and Kalindi Kunj during the summit period, with diversions planned towards alternative expressways.
The government’s common-transport arrangement for its own political leadership therefore comes against a larger effort to keep the number of moving VIP convoys under control.
