Noida: The sudden traffic jams that Noida is notorious for now have a clear explanation. Police data reveals that Noida, Greater Noida, and surrounding areas witnessed nearly 5,500 VIP and VVIP visits over the past year, averaging 14 dignitaries per day. These movements require extensive security arrangements, posing a major logistical challenge for police already struggling with the district's dense traffic.
Logistical Challenges for Police
Officers noted that every visit demands meticulous planning, route management, and inter-unit coordination to minimize public inconvenience. Data from the police commissionerate shows it managed security and traffic for 5,491 VVIP visits between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. These included visits by the Vice President, Prime Minister, Uttar Pradesh Governor, Chief Minister, governors and CMs of other states, 164 Z+ category protectees, foreign dignitaries, Union and state ministers, senior judiciary members, and other distinguished guests.
Security Protocols and Traffic Management
For each VVIP movement, the commissionerate conducted detailed briefings covering security protocols, traffic regulation, crowd management, route diversions, and emergency response. Arrangements included anti-sabotage checks, dog squad and bomb disposal unit deployment, and strategic positioning of personnel. Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh stated, "Despite the large number of VVIP movements, the department maintained a focus on minimizing public inconvenience. Alternative routes and diversion plans were publicized in advance through various communication channels."
Impact on Daily Commuters
However, the data does not fully capture the disruption faced by daily commuters. On June 23, 2025, traffic on the Noida Expressway and DND Flyway was halted for former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar's convoy, causing peak-hour congestion. On August 21, all entry points to the expressway were blocked for 10-15 minutes for Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan's convoy, delaying commuters by 15-20 minutes. In February, diversions on Noida and Yamuna expressways occurred when Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw attended the foundation ceremony of the HCL-Foxconn semiconductor unit in YEIDA Sector 28.
The largest disruption came on March 28, 2026, when extensive restrictions and diversions were enforced across the Noida-Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway corridors for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to inaugurate Jewar airport. Beyond convoy movements, four major international events at India Expo Centre and Expo Mart required special traffic management plans, repeatedly causing congestion around Knowledge Park, Pari Chowk, and the Noida Expressway corridor throughout the year.
