Delhi gears up for Beating Retreat Ceremony 2026: Date, timing, tickets and traffic restrictions at Vijay Chowk, Kartavya Path, Rafi Marg and more

The Beating Retreat ceremony that marks the end of Republic Day festivities is being held on the evening of January 29 at the Vijay Chowk in New Delhi. The ceremony features a musical performance by the bands of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Delhi Police, and the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF). The beating retreat ceremony is presided over by the President of India, who is the supreme commander of the Armed Forces.

In view of the Beating retreat ceremony, Delhi Traffic Police has issued a detailed traffic advisory which includes road closures, bus diversions, and public safety instructions to ensure smooth and secure celebrations.

Beating Retreat traffic restrictions on January 29

Vijay Chowk will remain closed for general traffic during the beating retreat ceremony and restrictions will be enforced from 2 pm to 9.30 pm Thursday. According to the Delhi traffic police advisory, these restrictions will facilitate the Beating Retreat ceremony and illumination of Rashtrapati Bhavan, North Block, South Block and Parliament House as part of the Republic Day celebrations.

-Traffic restrictions will be in place on Rafi Marg between Sunehri Masjid roundabout and Krishi Bhawan roundabout, and on Raisina Road from Krishi Bhawan roundabout towards Vijay Chowk.

-Vehicle movement beyond the Dara Shikoh Road roundabout, Krishna Menon Marg roundabout, and Sunehri Masjid roundabout towards Vijay Chowk will remain restricted.

-Kartavya Path between Vijay Chowk and the C-Hexagon will be closed to general public traffic.

-Motorists are advised to take alternate routes, including Ring Road, Vande Mataram Marg, Aurobindo Marg, Madarsa T-Point, Safdarjung Road via Kamal Ataturk Marg, Rani Jhansi Road, and Minto Road.

-DTC and other city buses will be diverted from their regular routes between 2 pm and 9:30 pm to ease congestion and facilitate spectator movement.

-Parking arrangements for visitors attending the illumination at Vijay Chowk will be available after 7 pm behind the water channels between Rafi Marg and the C-Hexagon.

-Commuters have been urged to plan their journeys in advance, avoid restricted stretches, and follow directions of traffic police personnel on duty.

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Traffic movement will not be allowed on:

Rafi Marg between R/A Sunheri Masjid and R/A Krishi Bhavan

Raisina Road from R/A Krishi Bhavan towards Vijay Chowk

Additional restrictions will apply on surrounding roads including:

R/A Dara Shikoh Road

R/A Krishna Menon Marg

R/A Sunehri Masjid towards Vijay Chowk

Kartavya Path between Vijay Chowk and ‘C’ Hexagon

Metro stations closure

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has said that the exit gates of Udyog Bhawan and Central Secretariat Metro Stations towards Rafi Marg will remain closed on January 29 from 2 pm to 6 pm. The DMRC has advised passengers to plan their journey accordingly.

Bus routes restrictions

DTC and other city buses will be diverted between 2 pm and 9:30 pm to ensure smooth movement of invitees and spectators and to avoid congestion around Vijay Chowk and India Gate.

Diversions will affect buses operating from and towards Central Secretariat, Connaught Place, Old Delhi Railway Station, Red Fort, ISBT Kashmiri Gate, and south/southeast Delhi.

Buses bound for Central Secretariat and Connaught Place from Shanti Path–Vinay Marg–Sardar Patel Marg will take Panchsheel Marg → Simon Bolivar Marg → Vande Mataram Marg → R/A Shankar Road → Sheikh Mujibur Rehman Road.

Central Secretariat–bound buses will terminate at Udyan Marg and return via Kali Bari Marg → Mandir Marg → Shankar Road.

Connaught Place–bound buses will operate via Mandir Marg → Kali Bari Marg → GPO → Baba Khadak Singh Marg, and return through Bhagat Singh Marg → Peshwa Road → Mandir Marg → Shankar Road → Vande Mataram Marg.

Buses from south Delhi via Tughlak Road heading to Connaught Place/Central Secretariat will be diverted from Aurobindo Chowk to Safdarjung Road → Kamal Ataturk Marg → Panchsheel Marg → Simon Bolivar Marg.

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Buses heading to Mandi House and Feroz Shah Road via Barakhamba Road will terminate at Shivaji Stadium and return via Kasturba Gandhi Marg/Barakhamba Road.

Connaught Place–bound buses from Shahjahan Road will proceed to Shivaji Stadium via Aurobindo Chowk → Safdarjung Road → Kamal Ataturk Marg → Panchsheel Marg.

Buses bound for Old Delhi Railway Station, Red Fort and ISBT Kashmiri Gate from south Delhi will take Ring Road from AIIMS → Dhaula Kuan → Ridge Road → Rani Jhansi Road.

Buses from the Ashram side heading to Old Delhi Railway Station, Red Fort and ISBT Kashmiri Gate will take Ashram Chowk → Ring Road → Sarai Kale Khan → Raj Ghat.

Buses from Old Delhi Railway Station, Red Fort and Kashmiri Gate bound for south and southeast Delhi will use Delhi Gate → Jawaharlal Nehru Marg → Raj Ghat → Ring Road → Sarai Kale Khan → Ashram Chowk.

Buses from Vikas Marg heading south will be diverted via Ring Road → Sarai Kale Khan → Ashram Chowk.

Connaught Place–bound buses via Kasturba Gandhi Marg towards India Gate will take Minto Road → DDU Marg → I.P. Flyover → Ring Road → Sarai Kale Khan.

Beating retreat: Timings, tickets and date

The beating retreat ceremony will take place today at the Vijay Chowk in the national capital. The sale of tickets for the Beating Retreat ceremony started from January 05, 2026. The cost of the ticket is Rs 100.

The tickets for the beating retreat ceremony were available from January 5 to January 14 from 9 am onwards till the quota for the day gets exhausted, an official release from PIB read. The tickets were available on the Aamantran website i.e.,www.aamantran.mod.gov.in. The tickets could also be purchased from the Booths/Counters at six locations on the production of Original Photo ID Card like Aadhar Card, Voter ID, Driving License, PAN Card, Passport, and ID Card issued by Central/State Govt. etc.

Regular updates will be available on the Delhi Traffic Police website, social media platforms, WhatsApp number 8750871493, and helpline numbers 1095 and 011-25844444.

(With agency inputs)