Summit Overview and Security Preparations

New Delhi is hosting the 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit this week, with the main programme scheduled from September 11 to 13 at Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan. The summit marks India's fourth chairship of the grouping, according to The Times of India, and follows months of meetings under India's presidency.

The event brings heads of state, foreign delegates and heads of international organisations to the capital. Ahead of the summit, Delhi Police have deployed around 30,000 personnel for security, with roughly half from the Delhi Police and the remainder from paramilitary forces, as reported by The Indian Express. The security grid has been divided into sectors, with each placed under the charge of a deputy commissioner of police or an additional deputy commissioner of police, according to sources cited by the same outlet.

The Indian Express also reported that the Delhi Police Special Cell has been entrusted with the Chinese President's security arrangements, and an additional deputy commissioner of police and two assistant commissioners have been deployed in separate shifts at the hotel where the Russian President is expected to stay. Police have verified every hotel employee, including checks in Delhi and in their home states, the report added. Both presidents are expected to bring some of their own vehicles and convoy cars by aircraft.

Counter-drone systems, including DRDO-developed systems with both electronic 'soft-kill' and 'hard-kill' capabilities, will be deployed in Delhi, according to sources cited by India Today. The CISF has entered into a collaboration with the Drone Federation of India to strengthen counter-drone capabilities, the outlet reported. Delhi Police has also been coordinating with police and security agencies in Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chandigarh, India Today added.

Traffic Restrictions and Diversion Points

The Delhi Traffic Police has issued a detailed advisory for the summit period, with traffic diversions and regulated movement on key routes across the capital. Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Dinesh Kumar Gupta told ANI that 22 diversion points have been identified to regulate traffic and guide commuters towards alternative routes during the movement of VIP convoys. The advisory applies to more than 35 roads, which will see controlled movement.

The restrictions are scheduled from 9:30 am to 9 pm on September 12, according to the advisory posted on X by Delhi Traffic Police, as reported by ANI and Business Standard. On September 11, the restrictions are in place from 2 pm to 8:30 pm, The Times of India reported. The traffic police have also said that vehicles may be stopped or diverted at short notice depending on the movement of VVIP convoys and the prevailing security situation, with no fixed duration for such stoppages, The Tribune reported.

Several major roads have been identified as routes to avoid, including Mathura Road, Subramaniam Bharti Marg, Tees January Marg, Janpath, Satya Marg, Prithviraj Road, Firoz Shah Road, Ashoka Road, Neela Gumbad, Panchsheel Marg, Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Africa Avenue, Kautilya Marg, Bhagwan Das Road, Copernicus Marg, Kartavya Path, Purana Quila Road and Safdarjung Road, among others, according to Business Today.

Diversions will be implemented at specific points, including Dr Dinesh Nandini Dalmia Chowk, Ram Charan Aggarwal Chowk, Mir Dard Chowk, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Janpath/Connaught Place, Patel Chowk, Moti Bagh Flyover, Lodhi Road-Rahman Marg and Neela Gumbad, as detailed in the advisory reported by multiple outlets. For example, at Dr Dinesh Nandini Dalmia Chowk, traffic on Mathura Road and Tilak Marg towards the W-point will not be allowed, with commuters directed towards Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, IP Marg and Sikandra Road, The Tribune reported.

Travel Guidance for Commuters

The Delhi Traffic Police has advised commuters to plan their journeys in advance, allow extra travel time and use public transport, particularly the Metro, wherever feasible, according to the advisory reported by ANI and Business Standard. Emergency and essential-service vehicles will be given priority passage, the advisory said.

For airport travel, the traffic police has strongly recommended using the Delhi Metro, as reported by several outlets including Business Today and The Economic Times. Alternative routes have been suggested for passengers travelling to New Delhi Railway Station, Old Delhi Railway Station and Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, according to The Economic Times.

For New Delhi Railway Station, three suggested routes have been provided: from ISBT Kashmiri Gate via Boulevard Road, Rani Jhansi Marg, DBG Road, Panchkuian Road and the Outer Circle of Connaught Place; via Ashram Chowk, Ring Road, Raj Ghat and JLN Marg; and via Vande Mataram Marg, Dr Ambedkar Marg, Panchkuian Road and the Outer Circle of Connaught Place. For Old Delhi Railway Station, routes from ISBT Kashmiri Gate through Ring Road, Hanuman Mandir and SP Mukherjee Marg, and via Ashram Chowk through Ring Road and Raj Ghat have been listed.

For Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station from south Delhi, the suggested route is AIIMS–Ring Road–Ashram Chowk–Mathura Road, The Economic Times reported. For airport travel, routes have been provided for passengers from different parts of the city, including Gurugram, Dwarka, New Delhi, South Delhi, West Delhi and North/East Delhi, as detailed in the advisory.

Roadside parking is prohibited within 200 metres of controlled roads, and non-destined commercial vehicles are barred from entering Delhi during this period, according to NewsX and Outlook India. Bus services will continue, though necessary diversions may be introduced during VIP movements, while Metro services will remain operational at all stations, India Today reported.

Railway Adjustments and School Closures

Northern Railway has announced changes to train operations from September 11 to 13, including cancellations, diversions, short-originations, short-terminations and rescheduling, The Times of India reported. A railway official told the outlet that the changes were made due to a Delhi Police advisory and were for operational reasons. Several trains, including the Gomti Express, Shramjeevi Express, Rajdhani services, Vaishali Express, Magadh Express and Swatantrata Senani Express, have been diverted on September 12, The Economic Times reported.

The railway has advised passengers to check the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) or dial 139 for updates, as reported by India Today and The Times of India. Several EMU and MEMU services connecting Delhi with Ghaziabad, Palwal and Shakurbasti have been cancelled or altered, with some trains short-originating from Ghaziabad on September 12, India Today reported.

The Directorate of Education has directed schools in the capital to remain closed on Friday, September 11, as part of the summit arrangements, The Economic Times and NewsX reported. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has also announced that Metro services will commence at 6 am on all lines on Sunday, September 13, to facilitate the movement of students appearing for examinations and the general public, as stated in a post on X reported by ANI and Business Standard.