With Foreign Ministers and Heads of States of over 50 countries converging in the national Capital for the forthcoming India-Africa Summit, an already bad traffic situation in the city is expected to become chaotic, said sources. However, a senior traffic official said traffic will be mainly affected only on October 29, the day of the meet of the Heads of States many of whom will be provided Prime Minister-level security.
He added that traffic will remain more or less normal on the other days of the summit when the Foreign Ministers and various officials of the respective Governments meet. Traffic on Subramanyam Bharti Marg, part of Mathura Road, Bhairo Road and part of Ring Road will be affected during the VIP movement.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Operations) Sharad Aggarwal, who is overseeing the traffic arrangements during the Summit, said since PM-level security is being given to some guests who will be attending the Summit, so some traffic restrictions are bound to be put in place.
“But our main aim would be to minimise the inconvenience caused to the regular commuters. While some traffic restrictions will be put in place on October 29, minimum effect to the traffic will be seen on the preceding days of the Summit. Even during the traffic restrictions on some roads, alternate routes will be provided accordingly and public will be informed about them. An advisory about the elaborate traffic plans with the diversions put in place would be issued in a couple of days,” said Aggarwal.
He added that traffic police will also make sure that traffic restrictions on those roads where VIP movement will take place will be for the least time possible. “We will also try to operate cross traffic during that time so that vehicles that just want to cross the junction without coming on the VIP route are permitted to do so,” Aggarwal added.
While there will be no restrictions for traffic on lodi Road, Vikas Marg and major part of the Ring Road, which can be used by people commuting to New Delhi from south Delhi, Subramania Bharti Marg, Bhairo Road and parts of Mathura Road and Ring Road will be restricted for traffic during the VIP movement.
“Apart from that, traffic on roads near the hotels where the dignitaries will be staying may also be affected for a little time when they move out of the hotels. One has to understand that usually when one VIP passes the road, the traffic is opened for regular commuters. But in this case, there are Heads of 54 States who will have to be escorted to the venue, and then there’s a banquet as well. So traffic will be affected for a longer period of time than usual. We will be trying to make sure that traffic restrictions are in place for the minimum possible time,” he added.