New Delhi is being placed under a high-security cover as the Modi government makes final preparations for the 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled at Bharat Mandapam on 12th and 13th September. With several heads of state, foreign delegates and senior international officials expected in the capital, security agencies have been working for months to make sure the summit takes place smoothly.
The preparations cover much more than the main venue. Delhi Police, paramilitary forces, the National Security Guard (NSG), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Special Protection Group (SPG) and other agencies are working together to secure the airport, hotels, VVIP routes, Bharat Mandapam and other locations that visiting leaders may travel to.
15,000 police personnel, 200 CAPF companies deployed
Around 15,000 Delhi Police personnel have been mobilised for the summit, while about 200 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have also been deployed for law-and-order and other operational duties. More than 10,000 personnel from forces including the CRPF, ITBP, BSF and RAF will remain available if additional security support is required.
More than 100 NSG commandos, along with Delhi Police SWAT teams, will be involved in securing the summit venue and hotels. Around 30 DCP-rank officers have also been assigned to the main venue and hotels, with 10 DCPs specifically deployed at and around Bharat Mandapam.
The Modi government’s security plan also includes two command rooms, one at Bharat Mandapam and another at Delhi Police Headquarters, to monitor the overall security situation and the movement of VIP convoys.
500-plus cameras keeping watch
Surveillance has been significantly increased across New Delhi. More than 500 CCTV cameras, including high-resolution cameras, facial-recognition systems and vehicle number plate-reading cameras, have been installed at important locations and along VVIP routes.
A dedicated CCTV control room at Tughlak Road Police Station will receive feeds from around 500 cameras. If suspicious movement or activity is detected, information can be passed immediately to the central control room or police personnel on the ground.
A multi-layer security arrangement has also been created within a 5-km radius of Bharat Mandapam. Delhi Police and paramilitary forces will guard the outer areas, while specialised units including the NSG will secure areas closer to and inside the venue.
Airport, hotels and VVIP routes under security cover
The security plan extends from the airport to the hotels where foreign delegates will stay and then to Bharat Mandapam. Around 10 major hotels hosting foreign delegates will remain under close surveillance.
The designated routes have been surveyed and sanitised in advance. Delhi Police and its Traffic Branch will keep a close watch on these routes during the summit to prevent security threats and ensure the smooth movement of visiting leaders.
Access to Bharat Mandapam will also be tightly controlled. Only authorised delegates, staff and people with valid passes will be allowed inside. CCTV monitoring, technical surveillance, biometric checks and strict access control will be used at entry gates, parking areas and other sensitive zones.
Traffic restrictions planned across Delhi
The summit is also expected to affect traffic movement in parts of the capital. Authorities have identified 22 major diversion points and more than 35 important roads where vehicles may be temporarily stopped or diverted during VVIP movements.
Delhi Traffic Police has made it clear that there will be no complete shutdown of the city. Traffic will continue normally wherever security arrangements allow. However, commuters may face temporary stoppages when foreign dignitaries travel through designated routes.
The timing of these stoppages will not follow a fixed schedule. Vehicles will be released in phases depending on the security situation and conditions on the ground. Around 4,800 traffic police personnel have been deployed specifically for summit-related arrangements.
A motorcade rehearsal earlier in the week gave a glimpse of what commuters can expect. Traffic was regulated at 22 locations during the rehearsal, which was conducted between 7 pm and 10 pm.
Airspace restrictions and anti-drone measures
Security arrangements are also being extended to the skies. The Airports Authority of India has notified airspace restrictions around New Delhi, with non-scheduled flight operations barred from 7 am to 11 pm between 11th and 13th September
Anti-drone systems have also been deployed as part of the wider security plan. Repeated mock drills and security exercises are being conducted to prepare agencies for different situations.
Delhi gets a new look for the summit
Alongside the security arrangements, the Modi government and civic authorities have also stepped up beautification work across New Delhi. The work includes thematic paintings and improvements to public spaces.
BRICS banners, posters and illuminated installations have come up around Bharat Mandapam, Connaught Place, Khan Market and other prominent areas. Major markets and parts of New Delhi have received enhanced lighting.
With the 18th BRICS Summit bringing together leaders of BRICS member and partner countries, outreach nations and heads of international organisations, the Modi government has put security, traffic management and city preparedness at the centre of its summit planning.
