G20 Meet: Delhiites may face travel curbs

Stringent security measures will be put in place across Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) during the G20 summit on September 9-10 for seamless movement of 30 leaders, including invitees and their entourages, according to people aware of the matter.

The movement of residents of Delhi-NCR could be restricted for three days, from September 8-10, they said, as most of the invitees will arrive in Delhi on September 8 and depart either on September 10 evening or September 11, the people said.

While September 9-10 is a weekend, September 8 might be declared a holiday in New Delhi owing to the security arrangements for the event, according to those in the know. Special arrangements are being made for movement of the media covering the G20 summit, they said.

More than 20 hotels in the capital have been booked for the visiting leaders – Saudi Arabia, US and China are expected to send big delegations to the event. The summit venue – International Exhibition Cum Convention Centre at Pragati Maidan – will have a rest area for the delegates and a facility for live screening of the meetings. Bilateral meeting rooms have also been set up.

The conference centre is spread over 53,399 square metres and has the capacity to seat 7,000 people in its multi-purpose and plenary halls combined. It is larger than the iconic Sydney Opera House, which can hold around 5,900.