Amid hi-tech AI Summit, Delhi faced a low-tech nightmare - severe traffic jams

• Delhi traffic hit gridlock during India AI Impact Summit 2026
• Rishi Sunak joked AI can't yet solve Delhi's traffic woes
• VIP security led to road closures, causing hours-long delays

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It was meant to be a showcase of India’s technological ambitions, but the India AI Impact Summit 2026 will also be remembered for a decidedly low-tech problem: gridlock.

As global leaders and tech visionaries gathered at Bharat Mandapam to discuss the future of artificial intelligence, the national capital's traffic ground to a near standstill, prompting widespread frustration among thousands of commuters and a witty rebuke from former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak .

While the summit aimed to highlight how AI can resolve complex human challenges, Sunak was quick to point out its current limitations. Addressing the audience after a delayed arrival, he remarked, “Sorry we’re a few minutes late, that’s entirely my fault. AI can do many things, as we’ve heard this week, but it can’t yet fix Delhi’s traffic. So, work to do."

The light-hearted quip reportedly drew laughter from the delegates but underscored a harsh reality for Delhiites navigating the city hosting the AI summit.

According to officials cited in a Hindustan Times report, Wednesday proved to be the most challenging day for traffic management, with 17 foreign dignitaries arriving in addition to the five who had already landed earlier in the week. The presence of 22 heads of state necessitated a security lockdown of unprecedented scale, turning key corridors into parking lots.

By 6 pm on Wednesday, traffic officials had to clear nearly 50 routes for VIP convoys. Several stretches remained closed for over an hour at a time, creating a ripple effect of congestion across the city. The movements were extensive, with leaders escorted not only from the airport to their hotels but also to various landmarks across the capital.

Among the high-profile visits was French President Emmanuel Macron, who travelled with Union Minister JP Nadda to AIIMS to inaugurate the Indo-French Campus on AI in Global Health. Other dignitaries were taken to sites including Humayun’s Tomb, India Gate and even an Aadhaar office in New Delhi.

The security blanket resulted in severe traffic snarls on a long list of major arteries. Roads that bore the brunt of the closures included C-Hexagon, Mathura Road, the Lodhi Road flyover, Raisina Road, Connaught Place, Minto Road, Paharganj, Sardar Patel Marg, the AIIMS flyover, Rao Tularam Marg and parts of Nizamuddin.

The congestion was so severe that the Supreme Court Metro station was briefly closed for approximately 12 minutes on Wednesday afternoon before services resumed.

The impact on daily life was immediate and unforgiving. Visuals from central Delhi showed vehicles crawling at a snail’s pace, with some stretches witnessing a near-complete standstill during peak evening hours.

Commuters took to social media to vent their frustration, with many reporting being stuck in traffic for up to four hours due to the movement restrictions linked to the VIP arrangements.