The Delhi traffic advisory issued today flags heavy diversions around Rajpath, India Gate, Dhaula Kuan and the routes leading to IGI Airport and the New Delhi and Nizamuddin railway stations, as security convoys rehearse for the upcoming BRICS-related engagements in the capital. Commuters heading to catch a flight or a train should build in at least 45 extra minutes.
Key Takeaways
- Delhi Traffic Police has notified route closures and diversions for motorcade rehearsal drills linked to the BRICS calendar.
- Airport-bound traffic on NH-48 and around the Dhaula Kuan interchange faces the sharpest slowdowns.
- New Delhi Railway Station and Nizamuddin Railway Station approaches are also affected during rehearsal windows.
- Police have suggested alternate arterial roads and advised commuters to check live updates before stepping out.
Why is there a Delhi traffic advisory today?
Every time Delhi hosts a high-security summit or a leaders’ motorcade, the police run at least one full-dress rehearsal before the real thing. That’s what’s triggering today’s Delhi traffic advisory — a practice run for the vehicle convoy that will eventually ferry VVIPs during the BRICS-linked proceedings scheduled in the capital.
These drills aren’t cosmetic. Security teams time the convoy down to the second, checking signal cycles, escort spacing and contingency routes in case the primary road needs to be abandoned mid-transit. That’s why an ordinary Thursday morning turns into a stop-and-go mess for the rest of us.
Which roads are affected?
Based on the advisory, the core rehearsal corridor runs through Central Delhi and stretches out toward the airport and the two major railway stations. Expect the tightest bottlenecks on these stretches:
| Route/Area | Likely Impact | Alternate Suggested |
| Rajpath & India Gate circle | Full closure during rehearsal window | Tilak Marg, Mathura Road |
| Dhaula Kuan interchange | Heavy congestion, intermittent halts | Ring Road via Moti Bagh |
| NH-48 towards IGI Airport | Slow-moving traffic, extra checks | Aerocity link road, Outer Ring Road |
| Approach to New Delhi Railway Station | Diversions on Panchkuian Road, Ajmeri Gate side | Minto Road, Bhavbhuti Marg |
| Approach to Nizamuddin Railway Station | Diversions near Mathura Road junction | Ring Road, Lodhi Road |
Timings for such rehearsals typically fall in the early-morning to midday window, roughly between 6 am and noon, though police often keep a buffer and reopen roads only once the convoy has fully cleared the route. Travellers should treat any posted time as approximate and add a cushion either side.
How do I reach IGI Airport during the diversions?
If your flight is this morning, don’t take NH-48 at face value — it’s the same stretch VVIP convoys use, so it’s first in line for closures. The safer bet is looping via the Aerocity link road or dropping down onto the Outer Ring Road before cutting across to Terminal 3. Cab aggregators in Delhi tend to reroute automatically once live traffic data kicks in, but if you’re self-driving, check the Delhi Traffic Police handle or app before you leave rather than relying on stale map data.
One thing seasoned Delhi drivers know: airport runs on rehearsal days eat up almost double the usual time, not because the road itself is blocked the whole stretch, but because of the ripple effect — every diverted vehicle piles onto the same two or three alternate roads.
What about trains from New Delhi and Nizamuddin stations?
Rail travellers face a quieter but still real problem. The immediate approach roads — Panchkuian Road near New Delhi station and the Mathura Road junction near Nizamuddin — see periodic halts rather than full closure. Autos and taxis dropping passengers may be asked to idle a few extra minutes at police barricades. If you’re catching an early train, it’s worth reaching the station 30-40 minutes ahead of your usual buffer.
A mile-by-mile read from the ground
I drove the Ring Road stretch past Moti Bagh around mid-morning last time Delhi ran a similar VVIP drill, and the pattern repeats almost every time. The first two kilometres move fine. Then, right at the point where local traffic merges with diverted convoy-route traffic, everything drops to a crawl for nearly twenty minutes. Past that pinch point, it opens up again almost as suddenly as it closed. That’s the real shape of a Delhi traffic advisory day — not one long jam, but short, sharp chokepoints where diverted streams collide.
The lesson for anyone driving in Delhi today: it’s not the total distance that costs you time, it’s the two or three merge points. Plan around those, and the rest of the route is manageable.
Are there other areas commuters should watch?
Beyond the airport and station approaches, expect spillover congestion around Connaught Place, Sardar Patel Marg and parts of Chanakyapuri, given their proximity to the diplomatic enclave and the rehearsal route. Delhi Police has, in past drills of this scale, deployed extra traffic marshals at these junctions to keep local traffic moving even while the main corridor stays reserved for the convoy. For the most current, minute-by-minute picture, it’s worth checking the Delhi Traffic Police advisory portal before setting out, since rehearsal windows can shift by an hour or more depending on the security schedule.
How can commuters avoid getting stuck?
- Check the Delhi Traffic Police advisory or Twitter/X handle before leaving home.
- Avoid Rajpath, India Gate and Dhaula Kuan entirely during the rehearsal window if possible.
- Use Ring Road, Outer Ring Road or Mathura Road as buffer routes rather than NH-48 directly.
- Add 45-60 minutes extra for airport trips, 30-40 minutes extra for station trips.
- Prefer the Delhi Metro Airport Express Line where possible — it runs unaffected by surface diversions.
FAQ
Why are there diversions in Delhi today?
Delhi Police is running motorcade rehearsals ahead of BRICS-linked engagements in the capital, which requires temporarily closing key stretches near India Gate, Dhaula Kuan and the airport corridor.
Will the Delhi traffic advisory affect metro services?
No. Metro services, including the Airport Express Line, typically run as scheduled since diversions apply to surface roads, not the metro corridor.
How long do rehearsal-related diversions usually last?
Past drills of this kind have generally lasted a few hours in the morning-to-midday window, though the exact duration depends on how the actual rehearsal proceeds on the day.
Is it safe to travel to the airport today?
Yes, travel remains safe — the advisory is about congestion management, not a security threat to commuters. Just plan for extra travel time.
Where can I check live updates on the Delhi traffic advisory?
The Delhi Traffic Police website and official social media handles post real-time updates on route closures and reopening times.
Conclusion
Today’s Delhi traffic advisory is a timing problem, not a travel-ban — plan your route around the Rajpath-Dhaula Kuan-airport corridor and you’ll lose minutes, not hours. Keep an eye on official updates, build in a buffer, and the rest of your day stays on schedule.