NEW DELHI – On the third day of India’s premier AI event, the “Impact” was felt most heavily on the feet of its attendees. As evening sessions concluded, the roads surrounding the prestigious Bharat Mandapam became a restricted zone, with Delhi Police barring the entry of Ubers, Olas, and even private shuttles to facilitate high-security VIP movement.
Despite official event advisories previously urging guests to use cabs due to “limited parking,” visitors found themselves trapped in a transport vacuum starting around 6:00 PM.
“Go for a Walk”: International Image Dented
Caleb Friesen, a Canadian national and long-term resident of India, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his disbelief. After exiting at 7:40 PM, he was met with a complete lack of pre-arranged transport.
“No cabs, no pre-arranged shuttle. ‘Road is closed, go for a walk’,” Friesen posted.
He noted that such mismanagement severely inconvenienced the differently-abled and projected a poor image of the country’s infrastructure to the hundreds of international delegates in attendance.
Chaos on the Ground: 5KM Treks and Metro Closures
The mismanagement extended beyond the immediate perimeter. Activist Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj reported that her cousin from the US was unable to find transport even after hours of trying, as even the nearby Metro station—traditionally the lifeline for Pragati Maidan—was reportedly shut down for security reasons.
Key Complaints from Attendees:
- Sahil Rajput: Reported walking 5 kilometers before reaching a zone where GPS-based cabs were permitted to pick up passengers.
- Piyush (Developer): Witnessed families and international visitors walking aimlessly for 6 kilometers. He filmed frustrated motorcyclists literally breaking through cement dividers to escape the gridlock.
- Security vs. Convenience: While VIP movement is standard for Bharat Mandapam, the lack of “last-mile” shuttle connectivity for thousands of delegates was labeled a “major failure” by participants.
The Contrast: High-Tech Inside, No-Tech Outside
Inside the venue, the summit celebrated India’s digital leap, yet outside, people were seen “clueless” and exhausted on the streets. Social media was flooded with videos of thousands of pedestrians lining the roads of Central Delhi, unable to access the very digital services (like ride-hailing apps) the summit was indirectly celebrating.
Authorities have not yet commented on why shuttle services were not synchronized with the road closures, or for how long the transport ban remained in effect.