Delhi is about to enter its high-security, high-traffic era as India prepares to host the 18th BRICS Summit from September 11 to 13, with Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan at the centre of the action. For travellers visiting the capital, however, the biggest thing to plan around may not be the summit itself, but getting from one part of the city to another. With foreign leaders, delegations and motorcades moving through the capital, Delhi Traffic Police has announced extensive traffic regulations. More than 35 roads and 22 diversion points have been identified for controlled movement, particularly across central and south Delhi. Importantly, this does not mean every road will remain closed throughout the day; restrictions are expected to change depending on VIP movement and security requirements. For tourists, that could mean an itinerary that looks perfectly manageable on Google Maps suddenly taking considerably longer. Several familiar routes around central Delhi are likely to see restrictions or regulated movement. These include Sardar Patel Marg, Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Akbar Road, Janpath, Ashoka Road, Barakhamba Road, Tolstoy Marg, Niti Marg, Panchsheel Marg, APJ Abdul Kalam Road, Mathura Road and Dr Zakir Hussain Marg, among others. Roads around Connaught Place, Mandi House, Lodhi Road and the Bharat Mandapam area are also expected to experience increased regulation. That matters if your Delhi itinerary involves ticking off several tourist staples in one day. A hotel in central Delhi, lunch in Connaught Place and an afternoon around India Gate may look like a short journey on paper, but diversions and temporary stoppages could add significant time. Travellers flying into or out of Indira Gandhi International Airport should be particularly careful with their timings. The traffic advisory recommends routes through Ring Road, AIIMS, Moti Bagh, Shankar Vihar Flyover, NH-48 and Mahipalpur Flyover for airport movement during regulated periods. In other words, leaving for the airport at the last possible minute is probably not the smartest strategy during the summit. Building extra time into airport transfers could save travellers from turning a relaxed departure into a frantic one. Delhi’s railway stations are not outside the traffic plan either. Alternate routes have been designated for New Delhi Railway Station, Old Delhi Railway Station and Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station. For New Delhi Railway Station, the suggested route runs through ISBT Kashmere Gate, Boulevard Road, Rani Jhansi Marg and Panchkuian Road. Travellers heading towards Old Delhi Railway Station have been advised to use the ISBT Kashmere Gate–Ring Road–Hanuman Mandir–SP Mukherjee Marg route, while those travelling to Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station can use AIIMS, Ring Road, Ashram Chowk and Mathura Road. If your sightseeing plans can be shifted to public transport, this may be the week to embrace Delhi Metro. Traffic police have specifically advised commuters and travellers to use the Metro wherever possible, plan journeys ahead and allow extra travel time. For visitors, the simplest approach is to keep plans flexible, check traffic updates before leaving and avoid stacking too many attractions across different parts of the city on the same day. Delhi is still very much open for business, and sightseeing, but during BRICS, getting there may require a little more strategy than usual. Travel News - Find latest news and tips based on Indian and World travel including top 10 travel destination, tourism information, how to reach visit and more at Times Now. Simran covers books that start conversations, beauty insights, fashion moods, and stories that make people feel something. Off duty? You’ll find her c... View More