Delhi is witnessing one of its largest peacetime security deployments as the capital prepares to host the BRICS Summit, with an estimated 30,000 security personnel mobilised across central and state agencies.
The Indian government has activated a multi-layered security apparatus spanning the Central Reserve Police Force, Delhi Police, the National Security Guard, and several intelligence and paramilitary wings. Roads near key venues — including the Bharat Mandapam complex in Pragati Maidan and surrounding diplomatic zones — have been closed or restricted to allow for thorough checks and controlled access.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are among the heads of state expected to attend the summit, alongside leaders from Brazil, South Africa, and other member and partner nations. Their arrivals trigger strict security corridors, flyovers being cleared of overhead obstacles, and aerial surveillance operations over sensitive zones in the national capital.
Traffic authorities have issued advisories urging commuters to avoid central Delhi during peak movement windows. Alternate routes via Outer Ring Road and satellite markets have been identified to ease congestion around hotel zones housing foreign delegations.
Local residents in pockets of South and Central Delhi have been asked to carry valid identification and cooperate with verification checkpoints. Several luxury hotels in areas such as Chanakyapuri and Khan Market have been converted into delegation accommodations, with their perimeters sealed off by cordon walls and metal barriers.
The deployment comes weeks after months of behind-the-scenes coordination between the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Delhi administration, and the Intelligence Bureau. Rehearsals for procession routes and venue lockdown drills were conducted at select sites last week.
Officials familiar with the planning told reporters that the scale of the operation reflects not only the stature of the visiting dignitaries but also the heightened geopolitical scrutiny surrounding the forum. India, currently holding the rotating BRICS chairmanship, is positioning the summit as a platform to discuss trade facilitation, climate finance, and reform of global multilateral institutions.
Local businesses near the cordon zone expressed mixed reactions. Some shopkeepers welcomed the footfall from visiting delegates, while others complained about prolonged access restrictions affecting daily operations.
The Delhi commission of police has set up a dedicated control room to monitor movement patterns in real time and respond to any emergency. Helicopter landing pads have been readied at prominent locations, and emergency medical teams have been stationed along the primary procession routes.
