Delhi's auto-rickshaw drivers and gig economy workers are grappling with a sharp drop in income as the National Capital gears up for the BRICS 2026 summit, with stringent VVIP movement protocols imposing sweeping travel restrictions across central Delhi.
According to administrative orders, 35 roads in the capital are under a 12-hour restriction window, while 22 diversions have been deployed to channel traffic away from key corridors where visiting heads of state and senior officials are expected to move.
Workers in neighborhoods like Rajouri Garden, Patel Chowk, Connaught Place, and Karol Bagh reported that orders and passenger requests have dried up almost completely during the restriction hours, which often stretch from early morning until late evening. Many said they are forced to wait in empty lanes for several hours without any work, while daily fixed expenses — including fuel, vehicle rental, and EMI payments — continue to mount.
"I come every day but barely get two or three rides now," said one auto driver near Patel Chowk, requesting anonymity. "During the BRICS period, people from the offices around here also stay indoors or work remotely, so there is almost no demand."
Delivery platform workers echoed similar grievances. Riders associated with food and quick-commerce companies noted that restaurant closures in restricted zones, coupled with restricted access to certain markets, have drastically reduced the number of available assignments. Several said they simply do not venture into restricted blocks anymore due to the uncertainty of getting stuck without a way back home.
Transport authorities have stated that the restrictions are time-bound and limited to a narrow window tied directly to the summit schedule. Officials acknowledged the inconvenience to commuter-dependent livelihoods and said alternative routes have been marked to help workers reach less-restricted parts of the city, though many said those detours cut into already thin profit margins.
This is not the first time large international events have disrupted the daily wagers of Delhi's informal transport workforce. Similar patterns were observed during previous summits and state visits, when security closures temporarily reshape mobility across the capital and leave street-level workers bearing the cost of diplomatic logistics.
