Delhi Police has advised commuters to plan their journeys in advance as the national capital prepares to host the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit from September 11 to 13, with traffic regulations and diversions expected across several key routes.

The summit will be held at Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan, bringing foreign leaders, delegates and security personnel to Delhi. The movement of high-level delegations is expected to affect traffic, particularly in central Delhi and along routes connecting the summit venue with major hotels, railway stations and the airport. 

Police asks commuters to plan travel

Delhi Police has urged residents and visitors to factor additional travel time into their journeys and remain alert to changing traffic conditions.

Commuters travelling through areas affected by security arrangements may face temporary diversions or regulated movement depending on the movement of VVIP convoys. Authorities have advised people to follow instructions from traffic personnel and use alternative routes wherever necessary. 

Delhi Metro recommended

With traffic restrictions expected on important road corridors, commuters have been encouraged to use public transport, particularly the Delhi Metro, wherever possible.

The advisory is intended to reduce pressure on roads during periods when traffic movement may be temporarily regulated for the movement of dignitaries and official convoys. 

More than 35 roads may be affected

Previous traffic advisories issued as part of BRICS preparations have identified more than 35 roads that could experience regulated movement or diversions.

The affected corridors include stretches around Sardar Patel Marg, Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Janpath, Ashoka Road, Barakhamba Road, Mathura Road, Lodhi Road and other important routes in central, south and southwest Delhi.

Traffic officials have also identified multiple diversion points to manage vehicle movement during motorcade operations.

Airport and railway commuters advised to allow extra time

People travelling to or from Indira Gandhi International Airport and major railway stations have been advised to allow additional time for their journeys.

Traffic arrangements during the summit period may change depending on the movement of foreign dignitaries. Commuters have therefore been advised to check traffic updates before starting their journey and avoid unnecessary travel through high-security corridors when restrictions are active.

Summit scheduled for September 11-13

India is hosting the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi as the country holds the BRICS chairmanship in 2026.

The main summit is scheduled for September 12 and 13 at Bharat Mandapam, while wider security and traffic arrangements are being implemented around the event period. Delegates are expected to begin arriving in Delhi before the main leaders’ meeting. 

Security arrangements tightened

The traffic measures form part of a wider security operation for the international gathering. Delhi Police has also urged citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity as heightened security arrangements remain in place in the New Delhi district. 

For daily commuters, the key advice is to leave early, keep additional travel time, use public transport where practical and follow traffic police directions. Conditions are expected to change depending on the movement of visiting delegations and security requirements during the summit.

Traffic restrictions have come into force across parts of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh as the annual Kanwar Yatra began on Thursday with the start of the Shravan month, bringing thousands of devotees onto major roads leading towards Haridwar. Authorities expect more than four crore pilgrims to visit Haridwar during the pilgrimage period, prompting extensive security and traffic arrangements across the region. Every year, Kanwariyas travel from different states to Haridwar and nearby areas to collect holy water from the Ganga before carrying it back, often on foot, to Shiva temples in their hometowns and villages for jalabhishek. With the movement of devotees increasing, Delhi Police has deployed personnel at key locations and warned commuters about possible congestion and diversions. According to a traffic advisory issued on July 30, vehicle movement is expected to be affected on several roads in Delhi's western range because of Kanwariya movement and Kanwar camps. The affected stretches include Najafgarh Firni Road, Rohtak Road, Pankha Road, Dev Prakash Shastri Marg, Nangloi-Najafgarh Road and Outer Ring Road.

Restrictions are more extensive across western Uttar Pradesh, where authorities have introduced traffic diversions in phases. The changes are expected to affect people travelling between Delhi, Haridwar, Dehradun and Saharanpur, with longer journey times possible because of alternative routes. In Ghaziabad, police have implemented a phased diversion plan running from July 29 to August 12. Heavy goods vehicles entering Ghaziabad from Delhi have already been restricted and are being diverted through routes including the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, Ganga Expressway and Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. Security arrangements have also been stepped up in other districts along the Kanwar route. Bareilly has deployed more than 3,900 police personnel and divided the district into three super zones, nine zones, 28 sectors and 104 sub-sectors for better monitoring. Across the Meerut zone, around 25,000 police personnel have been deployed. Nearly 7,000 AI-enabled CCTV cameras, temporary police posts, barricades and integrated command centres have also been put in place. Medical facilities and relief teams have been positioned near important ghats, while liquor shops and non-vegetarian eateries have been cleared from the pilgrimage route, according to the information provided.

The biggest restrictions will be seen on the Delhi-Haridwar National Highway as the pilgrimage gathers pace. Muzaffarnagar SSP Sanjay Kumar said heavy vehicles would be barred from key routes beginning July 30. From August 4, all traffic is scheduled to be prohibited on the Delhi-Haridwar National Highway and the Ganga canal road in Muzaffarnagar, making advance route planning important for commuters. Vehicles travelling from Haridwar and Saharanpur towards Delhi will be diverted through Deoband, Pachenda, Mirapur and Mawana in Meerut before proceeding towards the national capital. Vehicles travelling in the opposite direction will use the same alternative route. Those heading from Delhi towards Haridwar or Dehradun can use the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor, where authorities will discourage Kanwariyas from travelling so that regular traffic can continue. Emergency services will remain exempt from the broader restrictions. Ambulances and other emergency vehicles will be permitted to travel through restricted stretches under police escort. With the Kanwar Yatra continuing into August, commuters travelling through Delhi, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and towards Uttarakhand may need to account for diversions, congestion and additional travel time until the pilgrimage concludes.