Slum settlement in south Delhi veiled for BRICS Summit
Residents of a slum in south Delhi report that authorities have covered their settlement with banners to hide it from foreign dignitaries during the BRICS Summit. This action has drawn criticism from locals who feel marginalized by the beautification efforts.
Why it matters
It highlights the tension between urban beautification projects and the visibility of poverty during high-profile international events.
With the BRICS Summit underway in Delhi, a slum settlement located along the Nelson Mandela Marg and Munirka Marg in south Delhi’s Vasant Vihar has been covered with white-purple banners. The banners went up on Thursday night (September 10, 2026), two days ahead of the summit, to “hide the slums” from foreign dignitaries visiting Delhi during the summit, residents said.
Known as ‘Coolie Camp’, the settlement houses about 281 households, according to 2012 data from the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB). It’s situated a few kilometres away from the DLF Promenade mall in Vasant Kunj, and is surrounded by markets, parks, and government housing. The entire stretch along the Nelson Mandela Marg and Munirka Marg has been covered by 10-ft.-high curtains, with entry and exit restricted to two points, which has led to problems for them, residents said.
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