G20 Summit in Delhi: How to get around the city during the next weekend

Will there be a lockdown-like situation in Delhi during the G20 meeting? Are there any restrictions on public transport? Will the metro services be available at all stations? How long are the traffic measures expected to last? Here is everything you need to know.

A security official during security check at ITC Maurya for the upcoming G20 Summit in New Delhi. (PTI Photo/Atul Yadav)

By: Explained Desk

5 min readNew DelhiSep 4, 2023 10:53 AM IST First published on: Sep 2, 2023 at 02:55 PM IST

New Delhi is all set to host the G20 Heads of State and Government Summit on September 9 and 10.

Heads of state/government from all the G20 members (except for Russia’s Vladimir Putin and probably China’s Xi Jinping), the invited heads of state from other partner nations, and representatives of global organisations like the UN, IMF, World Bank and WTO, will arrive in Delhi to attend the meeting.

As a result, security has been amped up in the city and traffic restrictions will be implemented in the lead-up to the summit. Will there be a lockdown-like situation in Delhi during the G20 meeting? Are there any restrictions on public transport? Will the metro services be available at all stations? How long are the traffic measures expected to last? The Delhi Traffic Police has addressed all such queries and you can read them below.

First, where is the G20 summit taking place?

The G20 meeting will be held at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, on September 9 and 10. The delegates will also visit Rajghat, the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa during the summit.

Will there be a lockdown-like situation during the G20 summit?

No. There will only be certain restrictions on traffic movement, public transport services and limited access to some areas (more on these measures later). According to Delhi Traffic Police, all medical shops, grocery shops, milk booths, and vegetable and fruit shops will remain open throughout the city.

How will the G20 summit affect traffic movement in Delhi?

Between September 7 and 11, certain traffic regulations in and around New Delhi will be put in place. The flow of traffic will remain unaffected outside the jurisdiction of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area except on the National Highway 48 (NH-48), according to the Delhi Traffic Police.

General traffic, including all types of commercial vehicles and buses already present in Delhi will be allowed on Ring Road and road network beyond Ring Road, towards the borders of Delhi.

The traffic police added: “Movement of passengers to Airport, Railway Stations, and ISBTs will be facilitated as all these facilities will be operational even during the G-20 Summit. Bonafide residents & authorised vehicles will be allowed to move within New Delhi District.”

Moreover, bonafide residents and authorised vehicles will be allowed to move within the New Delhi District. But vehicles dealing with housekeeping, catering, waste management, etc. for hotels, hospitals and other important installations in the New Delhi District will be allowed only after verification.

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Also, “bonafide residents, authorised vehicles and essential service providers mentioned above will have to carry documents to prove their identity,” the Delhi Traffic Police said.

What about public transport?

Metro services at all stations will be unhindered during the summit except at Supreme Court Metro Station where boarding and deboarding will not be permitted from 5:00 am on September 9 to 11:00 pm on September 10.

Interstate buses will also be allowed entry into Delhi — they will have terminating points on the Ring Road. As mentioned before, city buses will run on Ring Road and the road network beyond Ring Road, towards the borders of Delhi. They will be allowed to exit from Delhi. However, City bus service will not be available in the New Delhi Area.

No taxis and auto-rickshaws will be allowed to enter or ply in the New Delhi District from 5:00 am on September 9 to 11:59 pm on September 10. However, taxis carrying bonafide residents and tourists having valid bookings in hotels located inside the New Delhi District will be allowed to ply on the road network inside the New Delhi District.

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Will parking be available near Pragati Maidan during the event?

Parking services near Pragati Maidan will be accessible only to authorised vehicles during the G20 summit due to security reasons. Delhi Traffic Police has advised commuters to avoid the use of private vehicles and seek alternative modes of transportation.

How long will these restrictions last?

The measures will stay in place from September 7 to 10. “The duration of traffic regulations can vary based on the Summit’s schedule, security requirements and other factors,” the traffic police said.