G20 Summit: Delhi To Remain Shut For 3 Days In Sept; Here’s What Will Be Affected

Amid the ongoing preparation for the G20 Leaders' Summit in Delhi in September, the New Delhi and NDMC areas may be out of bounds for the general public during the upcoming Summit.

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing preparation for the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Delhi in September, the New Delhi and NDMC areas may be out of bounds for the general public during the upcoming Summit. According to various media reports, three days in the month of September i.e. 8, 9, 10 will be declared public holidays. The international summit can also affect the operation malls and markets along with schools, colleges and government and private offices in the New Delhi area for three days. As per reports, some schools and colleges may be advised to switch to online mode or remain shut due to the summit. Traffic restrictions and diversion for the summit will kick in from September 7 midnight.

Strict curbs in NDMC area

The government could declare a public holiday to minimise crowds in the area and ease vehicular movement during the summit.

Strict restrictions on the movement of the general public in areas that come under the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) are expected on September 8, 9 and 10 for the G-20 Summit.

The main routes that would be taken by the dignitaries will be from the airport to 18 hotels (16 in Delhi and two in Gurgaon) and the hotels to the main venue (Pragati Maidan) and to Rajghat. Traffic movement around the airport will be of prime importance and apart from restrictions, traffic will move in a controlled manner at times.Besides this, arrangements have been made for the spouses of the heads of states who are scheduled to travel to Pusa Institute and National Gallery of Modern Art.

Special passes will be issued for government officials who have to visit the area during the Summit. High security will also be deployed in markets like Dilli Haat, Chandni Chowk, Khan Market, Connaught Place and Malcha Market.

Roads that would not be accessible for the general public are: Satya Marg, Shanti Path, Niti Marg, Kautilya Marg, Sardar Patel Marg, Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Janpath, Kartavya Path, C-Hexagon, Purana Qila Road, Akbar Road, Ashoka Road, Subramaniam Bharti Marg and Lodhi Road will see heavy traffic restrictions.

Steep surge in bookings

Capital’s most premium hotels including Taj Mahal, Taj Palace, ITC Maurya Sheraton, Le Meridien, Shangri-La, The Lalit, Imperial, Oberoi, and Leela have already closed availability for almost all dates between September 6-11. Other hotels such as The Claridges, Eros, Pride Hotel are seeing 100 percent bookings from September 8-10, a search on platforms such as booking.com has shown.

“Eros Hotel will be reporting 100 percent occupancy during the G20 meeting dates,” Rubina Sharma, Director of Sales and Marketing, Eros Hotel, Nehru Place confirmed to Moneycontrol.

Delhi Schools Closed on September 8

In order to keep the roads less crowded for the visiting G 20 dignitaries, authorities in Delhi, may ask residents to limit their movement around the major event. They also suggested to declare September 8 a public holiday is also under consideration. The Department of Education of the Delhi government has already urged schools to observe September 8 as a holiday for both students and employees.

Police to set up virtual help desk

The Delhi Traffic Police will set up a virtual help desk for the guests as well as common people to inform them about the nearest hospitals, marketplaces, sightseeing places, and the latest traffic updates. It will be operated in multiple languages.

Who are the invitees or guests of the G20 Summit?

• Bangladesh
• Egypt
• Mauritius
• Netherlands
• Nigeria
• Oman
• Singapore
• Spain
• UAE

NOTE: The theme for the G20 Summit 2023 is “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which translates to “One Earth, One Family, One Future.”