New Delhi witnessed widespread traffic congestion on Monday as the AI Impact Summit 2026 commenced at Bharat Mandapam. The five-day international event, running from February 16 to 20, has drawn delegates from over 30 countries, including ministers, senior officials, and representatives of global organisations. With heightened security arrangements in place, major roads across the city experienced significant disruptions, affecting thousands of daily commuters.

Long queues of vehicles and near-zero traffic movement were reported from several arterial routes, including the Delhi-Meerut Expressway near Sarai Kale Khan, the DND Flyway, and the busy Vikas Marg–ITO stretch. Areas such as Naraina, the Delhi Cantt Metro station vicinity, and the Old Delhi Railway Station–Pul Mithai corridor were also severely impacted. Many commuters reported delays exceeding 30 minutes during peak hours.

Residents voiced frustration over fuel wastage, missed appointments, and productivity loss. A commuter from East Delhi’s Ashok Nagar described traffic coming to a complete standstill for over 20 minutes, attributing the chaos to both ongoing development work and summit-related restrictions. Others highlighted the compounded effect of smoke, congestion, and limited mobility in already crowded localities.

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To ensure security for visiting dignitaries, Delhi Police has deployed over 10,000 personnel citywide, including nearly 5,000 traffic officers assigned to manage diversions and regulate VIP routes. Traffic movement is being closely monitored on key stretches such as Mathura Road, Sardar Patel Marg, Janpath, Akbar Road, Shanti Path, and Bhairon Marg, with ambulances stationed along designated VVIP corridors.

Authorities have established a coordination cell to oversee real-time traffic flow, intelligence inputs, and emergency responses throughout the summit. Commuters have been advised to plan their journeys in advance and allow buffer time during peak hours. While the summit underscores India’s growing prominence in artificial intelligence diplomacy, the immediate impact on the capital’s mobility has been unmistakably disruptive.

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