New Delhi
oi-Swastika Sruti
The offices of central government and Delhi government in the national capital will continue to remain shut on September 11, 2026, when New Delhi hosts the 18th BRICS Summit.
Central and Delhi government offices will be closed on September 11, 2026, as New Delhi hosts the 18th BRICS Summit from September 11-13, requiring significant security and logistical arrangements for international leaders and delegations.
The summit which will last for three days at Bharat Mandapam from September 11 to 13 is expected to draw leaders and other officials from over 30 BRICS member and partner countries, heads of international organizations and business delegations.
This decision has been taken keeping in mind the security and logistical arrangements needed for the international event.
Why Are Government Offices Closed On September 11?
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions informed that government offices located in Delhi and New Delhi would be closed on Friday, 11 September.
It said the scope of the occasion and elaborate arrangements required for the movement of the foreign delegations and VIPs are the rationale behind the closure of the offices.
Since 12 and 13 September are a Saturday and Sunday, respectively, employees would get a three-day holiday during the summit week-end.
General Administration Department of the Delhi Government has also declared Friday, 11 September, as holiday for all government offices in Delhi, statutory bodies, and PSUs.
BRICS Leaders To Gather At Bharat Mandapam
India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
The summit is expected to see the participation of leaders from BRICS member and partner countries, besides representatives of international organisations and business communities.
Bharat Mandapam, located at Pragati Maidan, will be the main venue for the summit.
The arrival and movement of several high-level foreign delegations will require extensive security arrangements across the capital.
Traffic Restrictions Expected Across Delhi
In addition to this, the closing of the government office is also expected to alleviate the problem of traffic during the summit.
As mentioned by Delhi Police, plans have been made for the facilitation of traffic for the VVIP motorcades.
There will be several important roads in the central, southern, and southwestern regions of the city where traffic will get affected due to restrictions and diversions.
It is expected that at least 22 corridors might be affected by the traffic movement during the summit.
Why September 11 Could Be A Challenging Day For Traffic
Many foreign delegations are likely to arrive in Delhi on September 11.
Most of the foreign delegations will make use of the services provided by Indira Gandhi International Airport, their hotels, and the summit venue.
Traffic might get slowed down or even halted at times due to movement of these motorcades, according to officials.
This may have a considerable effect, especially during the busiest hours if there are more than one delegation moving around in the city.
Due to closure of many government departments, the number of commuters would reduce, which would make traffic management easy for the police.
Foreign Delegations To Stay At 10 Hotels
Security arrangements will also be intensified around the hotels where foreign delegations are expected to stay.
Officials said the delegations will be accommodated at 10 luxury hotels, including nine in central Delhi and one in Saket.
The hotels will require additional security because of the presence of foreign leaders, ministers and senior officials.
Routes connecting these hotels with the airport and Bharat Mandapam are also expected to receive special attention from security and traffic agencies.
Nearly 4,800 Traffic Personnel To Be Deployed
Delhi Traffic Police has prepared a large-scale plan for managing vehicular movement during the summit. Around 4,800 traffic personnel are expected to be deployed to regulate traffic, manage diversions and facilitate the movement of VVIP convoys.
Authorities are also expected to monitor key routes closely and coordinate traffic movement with the security agencies responsible for the visiting delegations.
A detailed traffic advisory will be issued before the summit, providing information about roads likely to face restrictions and alternate routes available to commuters.
Traffic Pressure Could Continue For Several Days
Although the summit itself will be held from September 11 to 13, traffic restrictions could affect Delhi for longer. The arrival of foreign delegations, their movements between hotels and the summit venue, and their departure could keep security agencies active around important routes for several days.
The traffic arrangements come at a time when several parts of Delhi are already experiencing congestion due to road repair and infrastructure work. Officials are therefore expected to rely heavily on diversions and route management to prevent major disruptions.
