As Delhi dresses up for AI Impact summit, flyovers & footpaths to be cleared of homeless

NEW DELHI: The homeless population of Delhi is set to be displaced yet again, this time for the high-profile AI Impact Summit–2026 next week.

The summit, being held from Feb 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam, will see the participation of heads of states, ministers, policymakers, global CEOs and CXOs and academicians, placing Delhi under international spotlight just over two years after it hosted the G20 Summit.

Authorities are planning a coordinated drive to shift homeless persons from flyovers, footpaths and central verges across key parts of the capital, citing sanitation, public safety and concerns around presentability.

Speaking to TOI, a civic body official said joint field inspections revealed that a number of homeless persons are temporarily residing in these areas, but no numbers have been discussed.

The key routes identified for the exercise are Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Bhairon Marg, Purana Qila Road, Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, Mathura Road, Tilak Marg, Lodhi Road, the Oberoi Flyover, NH-8, the Airport–Dhaula Kuan Ring Road and the Ring Road stretch between AIIMS and Dhaula Kuan.

In addition, hotels and accommodation facilities likely to host summit delegates—such as The Lodhi, India Habitat Centre, Eros Hotel Nehru Place and The Sheraton Saket—have also been identified for "special attention". Several heritage and tourism sites frequently visited by foreign dignitaries, including Rajghat, Humayun's Tomb, Nizamuddin Dargah, Purana Qila, the Lotus Temple, Kalkaji Temple and the Red Fort, will be covered.

The official said that the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (Dusib) has been directed to shift homeless persons to nearby shelter homes while "ensuring their safety, dignity and access to basic amenities".

PWD, as the custodian of flyovers and associated infrastructure, has been asked to identify all such locations, facilitate shifting operations in coordination with other agencies, and ensure cleaning and upkeep of the areas thereafter.

Delhi Police will provide assistance during the shifting process and ensure that the areas are not re-encroached. The revenue department has been asked to supervise the exercise through executive magistrates. MCD's zonal authorities have been asked to ensure smooth implementation.

A Dusib official said that arrangements are being made at shelter homes, including for food, bedding and sanitation facilities. "Three meals a day — breakfast, lunch and dinner — are provided, along with clean bedding and facilities for bathing and shaving as well," the official said.

However, the official added that many homeless persons tend to leave shelters after spending the night. "In several cases, they are brought to shelters in buses at night, but by morning many leave on their own. This remains one of the challenges in ensuring sustained rehabilitation," the official said.

According to Sunil Kumar Aledia, executive director of the Centre for Holistic Development, homeless persons account for about one per cent of the city's population. However, the exact number remains uncertain, as no census has been conducted. As per an ad-hoc survey conducted by Dusib in 2014, there were around 16,760 homeless persons in the city.