Central government and Delhi government offices will remain closed on 11 September to minimise public inconvenience as New Delhi prepares to host the 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit. The shutdown covers both tiers of government to ease security, logistics, and Motor Carcade movement during one of India's largest diplomatic gatherings of the year.

Official Holiday Declared

The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions issued a formal circular declaring 11 September a holiday for all Central government offices. The Delhi government had separately announced the same for its own offices earlier. The back-to-back declarations effectively shut down the bulk of the capital's administrative machinery for the day.

Traffic Management and Road Diversions

The Delhi Traffic Police has been conducting rehearsals ahead of the Summit, which runs from 11 to 13 September. As part of its traffic management plan, authorities have identified diversions at 22 points and regulated movement across more than 35 roads. On Wednesday, traffic curbs and diversions were enforced between 10 am and 3 pm for a Motor Carcade rehearsal ahead of the BRICS Business Forum and the Leaders' Summit. 12 and 13 September — falling on Saturday and Sunday — are expected to pose relatively fewer challenges for traffic managers.

Drone Surveillance Deployed Across the Capital

In a notable shift toward technology-driven traffic management, the Delhi Traffic Police is deploying drones to obtain real-time aerial views of traffic movement across critical stretches of the city. Additional Commissioner of Police Vijayanta Goyal Arya said drone surveillance is being conducted over major intersections, arterial roads, and congestion-prone corridors to identify bottlenecks and enable timely intervention.

'Particular attention is also being given to inter-state border points and other locations witnessing pile-up of vehicles. Drone-based inputs help assess the length and spread of queues, identify choke points and support better on-ground regulation and dispersal strategies,' Arya said.

Key Transit Hubs Under Watch

Aerial monitoring is also being carried out around major transit hubs, including Inter-State Bus Terminals (ISBTs), New Delhi Railway Station, and other key railway stations that typically see heavy vehicular and passenger movement. According to officials, real-time drone inputs are helping streamline traffic flow and enhance coordination at these high-footfall locations. Drones are additionally being deployed ahead of and during large gatherings to anticipate congestion and plan diversions in advance.

What Commuters Should Expect

Residents and daily commuters in New Delhi should brace for significant traffic restrictions across the capital from 11 to 13 September. The combination of motorcade routes, security cordons, and regulated arterial roads means alternate routes and extended travel times are likely. This is the first time India is hosting the BRICS Leaders' Summit at this scale under the current diplomatic cycle, making the logistical footprint considerably larger than routine state visits.