BRICS Summit Turns Delhi Roads Into Maze — Here's What's Shut, What's Not

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Last Updated:September 12, 2026, 07:50 IST

As Delhi hosts the 18th BRICS Summit, sweeping traffic curbs around Bharat Mandapam and Lutyens' zone leave commuters split between gridlock and eerily empty roads.

Delhi turned into a study in contrasts on September 12 as the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit triggered sweeping traffic restrictions across the capital, with heightened security visible from ITO to Dhaula Kuan even as Delhi Police and the DMRC scrambled to keep commuters and student examinees moving smoothly through the city.

While some motorists reported being stranded for over 40 minutes near Max Hospital in Saket, with the entire Press Enclave Road halted, others sailed through unusually empty roads, their commutes cut by more than two-thirds as offices declared holidays and many opted to work from home during the two-day summit.

What Restrictions Are In Force On September 12?

Delhi Police said traffic movement would be regulated across several key roads through the day, with controlled zones, prohibited areas, alternative routes and diversion points marked out on a dedicated advisory map. A separate advisory from Delhi Traffic Police flagged a narrower evening window as well — the two timeframes are laid out below.

Which Roads And Areas Are Affected?

The Bharat Mandapam/Pragati Maidan stretch forms the core prohibited zone, with regulated movement radiating out to corridors connecting central Delhi with the north, south, east and west of the city.

How Did The Ground Reality Compare With The Advisory?

Visuals from Mahipalpur to Dhaula Kuan on NH-8 showed heavy congestion in the intervening night of September 11-12, well ahead of the summit’s formal restriction windows, while ITO visuals through the day underscored the scale of the security deployment.

Delhi Police had earlier clarified that the city would not be shut down and that normal traffic would continue wherever security arrangements permitted.

Social media reflected the split experience. One user posted that BRICS curbs in Lutyens’ Delhi had left them walking to get lunch after a food-delivery order was abandoned.

Another, travelling to the airport, said a normally 45-minute drive took just 14 minutes given the curbs and reduced office traffic, joking that Delhi had “finally solved its traffic problem."

A third, headed to a business breakfast at The Imperial, said roads that had caused “trepidation" turned out largely free-flowing.

What Changed For Delhi Metro?

The DMRC said services would begin at 6 am on all corridors on Sunday, September 13 — an hour earlier than the usual 7 am Sunday start on the Pink, Magenta and Grey lines — to help students appearing for competitive exams and the general public. Emergency and essential-service vehicles were given priority passage throughout the restriction periods, per the police advisory.

About the Author

Sumedha Kirti

Sumedha Kirti is a Chief Sub Editor with over eight years of experience — both at the desk and reporting. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Miranda House. Kirti has previously worked with news...Read More

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