Delhi Traffic Police have issued a comprehensive advisory for central Delhi on December 15, 2025, as football legend Lionel Messi arrives for the final leg of his GOAT India Tour. The main event—a football clinic, interactions with Indian sporting icons, and other engagements—is scheduled at Arun Jaitley Stadium (formerly Feroz Shah Kotla) between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Restrictions and diversions are expected to begin around noon to accommodate large crowds and enhanced security protocols.
Key roads likely to experience heavy congestion between 12:00 noon and 5:00 p.m. include JLN Marg from Rajghat to Delhi Gate up to Kamla Market roundabout, Asaf Ali Road from Turkman Gate to Delhi Gate, and both carriageways of Bahadurshah Zafar Marg from Delhi Gate to ITO Chowk. Heavy vehicles will be barred from Daryaganj to Bahadurshah Zafar Marg and from Guru Nanak Chowk to Asaf Ali Road. Commuters are advised to avoid these stretches and plan alternate routes.
Spectators attending the event have been assigned specific entry gates based on approach directions: Gates 1-8 via Bahadurshah Zafar Marg (southern side), Gates 10-15 via JLN Marg near Ambedkar Stadium Bus Terminal (eastern side), and Gates 16-18 via Bahadurshah Zafar Marg near the petrol pump (western side). Parking near the stadium is restricted to labelled vehicles only, with free alternatives provided at Mata Sundari Road, Rajghat Power House Road, and Velodrome Road.
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App-based cab users can utilise designated pick-up and drop-off points at MA Medical College (Gate No. 2) on BSZ Marg and Rajghat Chowk. Illegal parking on Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, JLN Marg, and the Ring Road from Rajghat to IP Flyover will result in towing and prosecution.
Authorities have urged residents and visitors to cooperate by using public transport wherever possible, given the anticipated influx of fans eager to witness Messi's appearance. The advisory aims to ensure smooth traffic flow while prioritising safety during this high-profile international sporting event.
Messi's brief Delhi stop concludes his multi-city tour, blending celebrity interactions with grassroots football promotion and underscoring the growing crossover appeal of the sport in cricket-dominated India.
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