With global football icon Lionel Messi set to arrive in the national capital on Monday, the Delhi Police have issued a comprehensive traffic advisory to manage movement and ensure security during his high-profile visit. Commuters have been warned of diversions, vehicle restrictions, and parking bans in and around the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where the main event will take place later in the day.
According to the advisory released on Sunday, traffic diversions will be implemented on:
Bahadurshah Zafar Marg
Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Marg
These measures are aimed at handling the expected surge in vehicular movement linked to Messi’s itinerary.
The movement of heavy vehicles has been restricted on the following stretches:
Between Daryaganj and Bahadurshah Zafar Marg
From Guru Nanak Chowk to Asaf Ali Road
Authorities have advised commercial and long-distance vehicles to avoid these routes during the restricted period.
In a post on X, Delhi Traffic Police urged residents to avoid:
JLN Marg
Asaf Ali Road
Bahadurshah Zafar Marg
The advisory highlighted the likelihood of congestion due to security arrangements and the footballer’s scheduled movements across the city.
Commuters have been advised to:
Plan journeys in advance
Use alternate routes
Expect delays near central Delhi
Parking has been completely prohibited in the vicinity of the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Authorities have warned that:
Illegally parked vehicles will be towed
Penalties will be imposed on violators
To reduce congestion, the public has been strongly encouraged to:
Use Delhi Metro services
Opt for DTC and cluster buses
Lionel Messi is scheduled to land in Delhi at 10:45 am on Monday. His itinerary includes:
A 50-minute meet-and-greet session at a city hotel
A 20-minute meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Prime Minister’s residence
Messi will also meet:
Chief Justice Surya Kant
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi
Messi is expected to reach Arun Jaitley Stadium at around 3:30 pm. The programme includes:
A grand welcome
Musical performances
As part of the event:
Messi will felicitate Minerva Academy teams for winning three youth football trophies
He will visit a special mini football field, where Indian celebrities will play a friendly match
Messi will later greet the participating players
A football clinic for 22 children is scheduled between 3:55 pm and 4:15 pm, offering young players a rare opportunity to interact with the football legend.
Later, Messi will move to the centre of the field where:
Two Indian cricketers will present him with a gift
In return, Messi will hand over two pre-signed jerseys
Delhi Police have released designated entry and exit routes for ticket-holding fans attending the stadium event.
Authorities have urged attendees to:
Follow instructions issued by police and security personnel
Arrive early
Cooperate for a smooth and secure experience
Officials reiterated that the traffic restrictions are essential to manage crowd flow and security during the visit of one of football’s most celebrated global icons.