Delhi Metro to Run as Usual During BRICS Summit, Traffic Police Urge Public Transport
Delhi Metro services will remain unaffected during the BRICS Summit, DMRC said, as traffic police announced diversions on over 35 roads and urged commuters to use public transport.
Delhi Metro services will operate normally through the BRICS Summit weekend, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has said, putting to rest speculation about closures during the high-profile event.
In a post on X, DMRC stated that all metro stations would remain open until further notice and that operations would continue as usual unless specifically announced otherwise. Commuters were advised to check the DMRC website, its social media platforms or the Delhi Metro Sarthi app for updates.
Ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled for 12 and 13 September at Bharat Mandapam, several heads of state and multilateral leaders are arriving in the national capital. Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived early on Friday, 11 September, while United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was expected later in the day. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that Chinese President Xi Jinping, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will also take part.
The two-day summit is guided by the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability", with leaders set to exchange views on strengthening intra-BRICS cooperation and on global and regional matters of mutual importance.
With delegations and VVIP convoys moving across the city, the Delhi Traffic Police has announced traffic diversions and regulated movement from 2:00 pm to 8:30 pm. More than 35 roads have been identified for regulated movement and 22 diversion points designated across Delhi.
In its advisory, the traffic police urged commuters to plan journeys in advance, allow extra travel time, use public transport — especially the Metro — and follow designated diversion routes and instructions from traffic personnel. Nearly 4,800 traffic personnel have been deployed for summit arrangements.
Specific alternate routes have been listed for those heading to major railway stations. For New Delhi Railway Station, the advisory suggests ISBT Kashmiri Gate to Connaught Place, Ashram to JLN Marg, and Vande Mataram Marg to Connaught Place. For Old Delhi Railway Station, it lists ISBT Kashmiri Gate to SP Mukherjee Marg, Ashram Chowk to SP Mukherjee Marg, and Rani Jhansi Marg to Lothiyan Marg. For Hazarat Nizamuddin Railway Station, commuters can use AIIMS to Mathura Road or ISBT Kashmiri Gate to Mathura Road.
Travellers heading to the airport have been advised to use the Metro or take the designated routes outlined in the advisory to avoid delays caused by road restrictions.
Separately, DMRC announced that metro train services will commence at 6 am on all lines on Sunday to facilitate the smooth and timely movement of students appearing for examinations and the general public amid the traffic restrictions.