G20 Summit: As Traffic Curbs Kick In, Here's How To Commute In Delhi And Which Stretches To Avoid

G20 Summit India: Ahead of the G20 Summit, the administration has put strict traffic restrictions in place across Delhi. IAF's Rafale and other jets will be guarding the airspace.

G20 Summit Delhi: The Heads of Governments and International Organisations have started arriving in India for the G20 Summit to be held in New Delhi on September 9-10. Heavy security measures have been put in place across the city on Friday morning in view of the event. Officials told the news agency PTI that stringent restrictions are in place and online delivery services, except for medicines, have been barred in the area where the G20 summit venue and hotels for delegates are located. The entire New Delhi district has been designated as Controlled Zone-I from Friday 5 am till Sunday 11.59 pm.

Police have requested the residents not to visit India Gate and Kartavya Path for walking, cycling or picnicking. Officials said, as per PTI, that the movement of vehicles is being regulated in the New Delhi district but ambulances, locals and tourists in the area will be allowed to travel by presenting proper identification papers.

 

Delhi Metro Services To Begin From 4 AM From Sept 8-10

As tight traffic regulations are set to remain in Delhi till September 11 noon, the police have urged people to use metro services as much as possible due to regulated traffic movement. On the request of Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, the Delhi Metro has decided to begin its services from 4 am from terminal stations on all lines of the network on September 8, 9 and 10, reported PTI.

Apart from this, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said parking facilities at Supreme Court, Patel Chowk and RK Ashram Marg metro stations will be closed from 4 am on September 8 till September 11 noon.  According to PTI, police said that metro service shall remain available at all stations except for Supreme Court station, where boarding and deboarding will not be permitted from 5 am on September 9 to 11 pm on September 10. 

The advisory added that all types of goods vehicles, commercial vehicles, interstate buses and buses of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System will not be allowed to ply on the Mathura Road (beyond Ashram Chowk), Bhairon Road, Purana Quila Road and inside Pragati Maidan Tunnel from September 8 midnight till to 11.59 pm on September 10.

 

Police Ask Residents To Use 'Mapmyindia' App During Curbs

Delhi police have asked the residents to use the navigation app 'Mapmyindia' to get around the city till the restrictions are in place, as per PTI. Officials said that more than 50,000 personnel along with dog squads and mounted police have been deployed to keep a check during the summit.

Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) S S Yadav said Essential services such as postal and medical services, and sample collections by pathological labs will be allowed throughout Delhi.

 

Routes Restricted For Commute

According to the Delhi Police advisory, the entire area inside the Ring Road (Mahatma Gandhi Marg) has been designated as a "regulated zone". This implies that only bonafide residents, authorised vehicles, emergency vehicles, and those travelling to the airport, Old Delhi and New Delhi Railway Stations will be allowed to ply on the road network beyond Ring Road towards New Delhi district, reported PTI.

Furthermore, vehicles dedicated for housekeeping, catering and waste management for hotels, hospitals and other important installations in the New Delhi district will also be allowed after verification.  Around 16 roads and junctions will be treated as "Controlled Zone II" till 2 pm on Sunday. These are W-Point, A-Point, DDU Marg, Vikas Marg (till Noida Link Road-Pusta Road), Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and Delhi Gate, among others. 

The interstate buses coming through the Ghazipur Border will terminate at ISBT Sarai Kale Khan, while those from the Apsara Border, Chilla Border, Badarpur Border, Tikei Border and Singhu border will terminate at ISBT Kashmere Gate, ISBT Sarai Kale Khan, Ashram Chowk, Peeragarhi Chowk and Mukarba Chowk respectively, the agency stated.

Police have advised people to follow real-time traffic updates on the 'G-20 Virtual Help Desk' for route suggestions for commuting to and from the airport, railway stations or bus terminals.

 

Air Force Halts Exercise, Rafale And Other Jets To Guard Delhi Skies

Amid security measures, the Indian Air Force has paused its ongoing Exercise Trishul in the northern sector as fighter aircraft will not be flying from September 7-10, reported ANI. Officials told the agency that only the flying operations of the aircraft involved in Ex Trishul would be paused and other routine flying may continue.

Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force would start operating its PHALCON AWACS aircraft to keep an eye on the air space across the country to protect the air space over Delhi in view of the G-20 summit, defence sources said, as quoted by ANI.

The Indian Air Force is also putting Rafale and other fighter jets at the advanced air bases for the job of protecting Delhi skies. Apart from this, surface-to-air missile systems have also been moved to places around the national capital for taking out enemy aircraft or rogue drones.