New Delhi is facing heavy traffic disruption ahead of the BRICS summit this weekend as authorities turned parts of the city into tightly controlled security zones. Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed Friday, with barricades, checkpoints and traffic curbs in place before the summit begins Saturday. City authorities declared a public holiday and closed government offices, schools and many private businesses to ease movement. Residents complained that the restrictions were worsening daily life in a city already known for chronic congestion.
Delhi police personnel stand guard outside the illuminated Bharat Mandapam, the venue for the BRICS summit, in New Delhi, India, Sept. 10. AP-Yonhap
NEW DELHI — Bad traffic is a fact of life in New Delhi, but it's often at its worst when foreign dignitaries come to town.
As India's capital prepares to host a summit of the BRICS grouping of countries this weekend, parts of one of the world’s busiest urban centers have been turned into tightly controlled security zones.
Even as many Delhi residents are proud to play host to a gathering of world leaders, the traffic chaos is testing their patience and prompting widespread complaints about how the city plans for major events. BRICS is a grouping of 11 major emerging markets and developing countries, named after an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
