Delhi is set for traffic restrictions and diversions from September 11 to 13 as the national capital hosts the BRICS Summit, with the movement of foreign leaders expected to affect several key corridors.
The Delhi Traffic Police has prepared an extensive traffic management plan covering controlled roads, 22 diversion points and separate routes for commuters travelling to major railway stations and Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Traffic movement is expected to be affected as leaders and foreign delegations arrive in the city. Commuters have been advised to plan their journeys in advance, use alternative routes where necessary and allow additional travel time.
More than 35 roads placed under traffic controls
The controlled area covers a wide network of roads across central Delhi as well as the diplomatic and administrative districts.
Important stretches listed in the advisory include Tees January Marg, Akbar Road, Teen Murti Marg, Mother Teresa Crescent, Sardar Patel Marg, Janpath, Subramaniam Bharti Marg, Rajesh Pilot Marg, Purana Qila Road, Sher Shah Suri Marg, Tilak Marg, Bhagwan Das Road, Lodhi Road, Neela Gumbad, Kartavya Path and Tughlaq Road.
The controlled network also covers Mathura Road, Firozeshah Road, Africa Avenue, K.M. Ataturk Marg, APJ Abdul Kalam Road, C-Hexagon, Dr Zakir Hussain Marg, Ashoka Road, Prithviraj Road and Kautilya Marg.
Safdarjung Road, Panchsheel Marg, San Martin Marg, Nyaya Marg and Brigadier Hoshiar Singh Marg are also among the affected stretches. The Delhi Traffic Police advisory covers more than 35 roads in all.
However, the inclusion of a road in the controlled area does not necessarily mean it will remain closed to all traffic throughout the three-day period. Movement may be regulated or diverted depending on security requirements and traffic conditions.
22 diversion points and alternate routes
The traffic police has identified 22 diversion points across the city. These include Dr Dinesh Nandini Dalmia Chowk (W-Point), Ram Charan Aggarwal Chowk (A-Point), Guru Nanak Chowk, KG Marg/Outer Circle, Janpath, Patel Chowk, RML Hospital, Vande Mataram Marg/Simon Bolivar Marg, Dhaula Kuan Flyover and Moti Bagh Flyover.
Other diversion points include R/A Brigadier Hoshiar Singh Marg, Madarsa T-Point, several intersections along Lodhi Road, Neela Gumbad, the area under Oberoi Flyover, the U-turn opposite DPS Mathura Road, Ring Road/Bhairon Road and Mandi House.
At these locations, certain routes will be restricted while alternative roads will be available to commuters.
For instance, at Dr Dinesh Nandini Dalmia Chowk, traffic towards Mathura Road and Tilak Marg will not be allowed. Motorists can instead use Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, IP Marg and Sikandra Road.
At Patel Chowk, traffic towards Windsor Place and RBI will be restricted, with commuters able to use Ashoka Road towards GPO and Sansad Marg towards Connaught Place.
The traffic police has advised commuters to follow instructions from personnel on the ground as routes may be regulated according to the movement of VIP convoys.
Special arrangements for railway stations and airport
People travelling by train have been advised to plan their approach to railway stations carefully rather than relying on their usual routes.
For New Delhi Railway Station, passengers travelling from the north can use ISBT Kashmiri Gate–Boulevard Road–Rani Jhansi Marg–DBG Road. Those coming from the south and east can take Ashram Chowk–Ring Road–Raj Ghat–JLN Marg, while travellers from the west can use Vande Mataram Marg–Dr Ambedkar Marg–Panchkuian Road–Outer Circle, Connaught Place.
For Old Delhi Railway Station, suggested approaches include ISBT Kashmiri Gate–Ring Road–Hanuman Mandir–S.P. Mukherjee Marg. Passengers approaching from the south and east can use Ashram Chowk–Ring Road–Raj Ghat–Hanuman Mandir–S.P. Mukherjee Marg.
For Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, the advisory lists routes including AIIMS–Ring Road–Ashram Chowk–Mathura Road for passengers travelling from the south.
Separate route plans have also been issued for airport-bound passengers.
Travellers from Gurugram heading towards Terminal 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 2 have been advised to use NH-48, Rao Gajraj Singh Marg, Old Delhi Gurugram Road, UER-II and the NH-48 service road before approaching the terminals.
For Terminal 1, the suggested route includes NH-48, Mahipalpur Flyover and T-3 Road/NH-48–Ulan Batar Marg–T-1 Road.
Commuters travelling from Dwarka towards the airport can use Sector-22 Dwarka Road and UER-II, including the newly operated tunnel towards Terminal 3.
For passengers from New Delhi and south Delhi, suggested approaches include AIIMS Chowk, Ring Road, Moti Bagh Chowk, RTR Marg, Shankar Vihar Flyover, Sanjay T-Point, the NH-48 service road and the Mahipalpur Flyover/Rangpuri corridor.
Separate routes have also been outlined for travellers from west, north and east Delhi.
Given the restrictions, the traffic police has advised airport-bound commuters to consider using Metro services. Authorities have also urged passengers travelling to airports and railway stations to leave well in advance and allow extra time for their journeys.
The Delhi Traffic Police has asked commuters to monitor its official advisories and social media updates during the summit period for real-time information.
For assistance, commuters can contact the Delhi Traffic Police helpline at 1095. Traffic-related assistance and complaints can also be sent through WhatsApp at 8750871493. The official Delhi Traffic Police website has published the BRICS traffic advisory for September 11-13.