When VIPs move, Delhi waits. Nobody keeps count

When VIPs move, Delhi waits. Nobody keeps count Delhi’s traffic gridlock often halts for extended periods as high-profile individuals travel through the city. Commuters, ambulances, school buses, and even flights face delays due to these disruptions. Yet, there is no official record of how frequently such incidents occur, how they are regulated, or what impact they have on daily life. A recent inquiry by India Today into the matter revealed that Delhi Police has neither tracked these occurrences nor provided clear guidelines on managing them. India Today submitted two Right to Information (RTI) applications to the Delhi Police, seeking transparency on VIP movement protocols and associated costs. However, the responses left many critical questions unanswered. The police authorities did not release a definitive list of VIPs or VVIPs, nor did they provide written instructions on how traffic should be managed during such events. Two traffic offices claimed the inquiries were outside their jurisdiction and redirected the requests elsewhere. They also stated that no records were kept of public complaints related to traffic disruptions caused by VIP movements. The lack of data raises concerns about accountability and the effectiveness of current practices. Without knowing how often traffic is halted for VIPs, it is difficult to assess the scale of disruption or its effect on ordinary citizens. The absence of a formal policy further complicates efforts to ensure consistency and fairness in traffic management. This opacity suggests a system that operates with minimal oversight, leaving the public in the dark about the extent of its influence on urban mobility. In addition to the operational gaps, the financial aspects of VIP-related activities remain unclear. The second RTI application focused on expenditures linked to VIP security and the procurement of vehicles for the 2023 G20 Summit. While some financial figures were disclosed, others were either missing or unexplained. Records from before 2020 were reportedly destroyed, making it impossible to trace historical spending patterns. The available data showed dramatic fluctuations in spending on hired vehicles, rising from Rs 1.43 crore in 2021–22 to Rs 23.13 crore in 2022–23, a jump of over 16 times within a single year. Spending later dropped to Rs 16.89 crore, then to Rs 2.05 crore, and finally to zero in the current fiscal year. The reasons behind these swings were not explained in the response. Regarding the G20 Summit, Delhi Police acquired 850 new vehicles prior to the event. According to a PTI report from December 5, 2023, 400 of these were assigned to the Police Control Room, 150 to the security unit, and 300 distributed among police districts. India Today requested detailed information on how many of these vehicles were allocated to the security wing and district police, along with their costs. The queries were passed between multiple departments, but no conclusive reply was given. These findings underscore a broader issue: the lack of transparency and systematic documentation in handling VIP-related traffic and logistics. While the government continues to allocate substantial resources for high-profile events, the mechanisms for tracking and justifying these expenses remain opaque. This situation highlights the need for greater accountability and clearer policies to address the growing challenges of urban mobility in a rapidly expanding metropolis.