Delhi BRICS Summit: 15,000 cops, 200 paramilitary companies, traffic curbs

Delhi is under tight security ahead of the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit, with around 15,000 Delhi Police personnel, 200 companies of paramilitary forces and more than 500 CCTV cameras deployed across the capital.

The two-day summit will be held at Bharat Mandapam on September 12 and 13, as India hosts the meeting as chair of the grouping.

Delhi Traffic Police has clarified that there will be no shutdown of the city. However, commuters should expect temporary stoppages, diversions and restrictions on routes used by VVIP convoys.

Traffic will continue to move normally wherever security arrangements permit. Officials said stoppages during the movement of foreign dignitaries will not have a fixed duration, with vehicles released in phases depending on the security situation and prevailing ground conditions.

“We have made elaborate arrangements by ensuring minimum inconvenience to the public. We have also issued advance advisories on traffic arrangements,” a senior police officer said.

Putin arrives in Delhi for BRICS; Xi to join on Sept 12

Russian President Vladimir Putin reached Delhi for the summit early Friday, while China has confirmed President Xi Jinping’s attendance, marking his first trip to India after a seven-year gap.

The other global leaders in attendance include Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, and WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, among others.

Delhi Police has conducted extensive surveys of identified routes and held coordination meetings with multiple agencies and neighbouring states. Security arrangements will cover the airport, hotels, Bharat Mandapam and other locations the dignitaries are expected to visit.

All set for BRICS 2026!@BricsIndia2026 pic.twitter.com/nXqqoBmoAm

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 10, 2026

In the New Delhi zone, more than 500 CCTV cameras, including high-resolution cameras, facial recognition systems and vehicle number plate-reading cameras, will provide round-the-clock surveillance through a monitoring room.

Enhanced access control, verification, intelligence gathering, traffic management and emergency response mechanisms have also been put in place at the summit venue and the hotels where foreign dignitaries will stay.

Traffic curbs and diversions

More than 35 roads could be affected during the summit period. Key roads include Mathura Road, Sardar Patel Marg, Shanti Path, Janpath, Ashoka Road, Barakhamba Road, Tolstoy Marg, Africa Avenue Road, Niti Marg, Panchsheel Marg and J Abdul Kalam Road.

The impact is expected to be significant for commuters travelling between Noida and central Delhi, east Delhi and central areas, and from Dwarka and west Delhi towards Dhaula Kuan, the airport and south Delhi.

The movement of the Egyptian delegation between its hotel in Saket and central Delhi could also put additional pressure on south Delhi roads, particularly during peak hours.

Officials said the scale of the summit would require multiple high-security movements each day. A visiting leader could travel between the airport, hotel, summit venue and bilateral meetings or other engagements, resulting in around 70-80 or more high-security movements across the city in a single day.

Each movement requires separate traffic regulation, access restrictions and route coordination, making the impact on commuters significantly larger than during an ordinary VIP visit, officials said.

The city got a preview of the arrangements on Wednesday evening when a motorcade rehearsal led to prolonged delays at several places. Traffic was regulated at 22 diversion points during the exercise between 7 pm and 10 pm.

This is Delhi. This is the moment.

With its heritage glowing and Bharat Mandapam gearing up, the capital puts the finishing touches in place for the 18th BRICS Summit.#BRICS2026 #BRICSIndia2026 #IndiaBRICSChairship pic.twitter.com/2HBXHFfnD0

— BRICS 2026 (@BricsIndia2026) September 10, 2026

Nearly 4,800 traffic personnel have been deployed for the summit arrangements.

Public transport to continue

The Delhi Metro will continue to operate, although temporary restrictions at some stations or entry and exit gates may be imposed if required due to security considerations.

DTC and city buses will also operate, but routes passing through affected areas may be diverted, curtailed or regulated.

Autos, taxis and app-based cab services will continue to operate, although their movement into controlled or restricted areas and pick-up and drop-off arrangements may be affected.

Candidates appearing for UPSC, NDA, CDS and other examinations have been advised to check their examination centres and routes beforehand, carry their admit cards and identification and leave sufficiently early.

People travelling to hospitals for planned appointments have also been advised to allow additional time and check their routes in advance. In a genuine medical emergency, commuters should immediately inform nearby traffic personnel, officials said.

Traffic officials have coordinated with online map service providers, which will incorporate restrictions, diversions and alternate routes into their platforms in real time.

Parking will not be permitted on restricted and security-sensitive roads. Essential services, including milk, medicines and other supplies, will be facilitated in accordance with applicable arrangements.

Police have appealed to people not to forward unverified messages on social media claiming a “Delhi bandh” or blanket road closures and asked commuters to rely only on official updates.

Delhi gets BRICS makeover

Alongside the security arrangements, central Delhi has been given a major makeover for the summit, with illuminated roundabouts, floral displays, fresh landscaping and BRICS-themed signages across key locations.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has installed decorative lighting at Patel Chowk, Windsor Place, Mandi House, Teen Murti, Lok Kalyan Metro Station and the PMO roundabout.

LED signages carrying the BRICS Summit logo have also been installed, while summit-themed posters have been put up on street-light poles along important routes.

The civic body has intensified beautification, lighting and horticultural works across its jurisdiction, particularly along routes linking the airport and designated hotels with Bharat Mandapam.

Seventeen major roundabouts, at least a dozen hotel premises and 10 prominent NDMC buildings are being illuminated as part of the preparations. Trees, shrubs and landscaped areas around important hotels and along key roads are also being lit up.

The NDMC has completed verification of streetlights along all summit-related routes and replaced faulty lights identified during the exercise. Around 350 electrical panel boxes along roads have also been given a facelift with BRICS-themed branding.

More than 15,000 potted ornamental plants are being placed at prominent locations across New Delhi. Floral boards are being installed at 15 locations and floral fountains at nine others.

Landscaping, plantation, pruning and trimming of hedges and shrubs have also been intensified along major avenues and VIP routes.

The NDMC has stepped up work at the BRICS Friendship Rose Garden in Chanakyapuri, which was established in 2016 when India hosted the summit and has 107 varieties of roses.

Landscaping, pruning, grass cutting and decorative floral arrangements are being carried out at the garden and along surrounding routes in the diplomatic enclave.

The preparations have also involved joint inspections by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Public Works Department at key areas including Bharat Mandapam, Sarai Kale Khan, Lodhi Road, Nizamuddin, Saket and Sheikh Sarai.

Officials have been directed to intensify sanitation and cleaning work and ensure adequate deployment of workers and machinery along identified routes and other important locations.

India assumed its fourth BRICS chairship on January 1, with its 2026 presidency guided by the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.

The wider preparations are aimed at ensuring security for visiting dignitaries while keeping disruption to Delhi residents and commuters to a minimum as the capital hosts the summit.

(With inputs from agencies)