Delhi Gears Up for BRICS Summit 2026 with Road and Cleanliness Checks

The capital is pulling out all the stops as it prepares to host the BRICS Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam on September 12‑13. A special inspection drive, chaired by Delhi’s chief secretary, is slated for Saturday to sweep through the main artery that links the venue with Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Officials from a host of agencies – the New Delhi Municipal Council, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Public Works Department, Delhi Police, Delhi International Airport Ltd and the National Highways Authority of India – will be on the ground, eyeing everything from potholes and footpath cracks to drainage blocks and stray‑animal hotspots.

“We’re looking at the whole civic picture,” said the additional chief secretary (I&FC), who has been tasked with reviewing drainage set‑ups, water‑logging‑prone stretches and emergency de‑watering measures. The NDMC chair will focus on venues under its purview, while the MCD commissioner will take a hard look at cleanliness, encroachments, beautification and stray‑animal control.

Meanwhile, the PWD has been instructed to check road surfaces, signage, illumination and, of course, the ever‑present water‑logging issue, and to fix any flaws on the spot. There’s also a push to splash BRICS‑related branding along the route, giving the city a festive, international vibe.

Traffic, however, is set to feel the pinch. Starting September 10 and running through roughly September 14, central, south and southwest Delhi will see restrictions on at least 22 arterial roads. Nearly 4,800 traffic personnel will be deployed to shepherd foreign delegations, manage diversions and keep congestion under control.

Commuters are being warned to allow extra travel time, stay tuned to traffic advisories and expect temporary road closures. Detailed diversion maps and timing will be released by the Delhi Traffic Police as the summit draws nearer.