India’s capital to be brought to standstill for three-day G20 summit

Staggering 10,000 police personnel to be deployed for smooth traffic movement as public access to some areas to be restricted

Vehicles drive past the logo of India’s G20 summit, along a road in New Delhi on 10 August 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

India’s national capital New Delhi will come to a standstill for three days in September as it will play host to several world leaders for the G20 summit.

Travel and access to Delhi, known for having a high population density, is expected to be severely restricted ahead of the event as world leaders like Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Emmanuel Macron and Justin Trudeau will reach the city to attend the multilateral event.

Delhi’s chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has already announced a public holiday from 8-10 September, directing all government, municipal corporation, private offices and schools to remain shut.

Further traffic restrictions will be introduced in the New Delhi district, also known as the Lutyen’s Zone, where the functionaries are expected to reside. Only residents and those in essential service jobs will be allowed to enter the area, according to a traffic plan introduced by the state police, stonewalling access to the area for about 30 million city residents.

“There will be no impact of these restrictions on ambulance movement or essential services,” Surendrer Singh Yadav, special commissioner of police, was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times. This would include daily-use commodities such as milk, fruits, vegetables and medical equipment.

“Since no buses will be allowed to move on the city roads between the midnights of September 7 and September 10, people are advised to use the Metro for commuting to their destination,” he said.

According to the outlet, police officials have also directed the Delhi Metro to shut services at some stations.

In the run up to the event, prime minister Narendra Modi issued a statement saying people may “face inconvenience” due to the restrictions, “but we have to ensure its success”.

Over 10,000 police personnel will be on the ground to ensure smooth and safe traffic movement in the national capital.

The scale of the massive restrictions has drawn criticism as the ability of the capital’s administrative machinery to hold such a high-profile event without disrupting the lives of ordinary citizens has come under focus.

“Have a small and innocent query, whether such ‘closures’ happen in all the countries where G20 is hosted or it is our very own ‘trademark’!!!” questioned lawmaker Manoj Kumar Jha.