Delhi traders have warned that they may hand over their shop keys to protest organisers if rallies and demonstrations continue in major commercial areas until Bhai Dooj on November 11, citing traffic disruption and alleged losses during the festive trading season.
The warning was issued by the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), which has written to the Delhi Police commissioner seeking restrictions on rallies and protest marches around Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar, Ramlila Maidan, India Gate, Rajghat, and central and Old Delhi during the festival period. CTI has suggested Burari, Alipur and the Yamuna Khadar area as alternative venues for rallies.
CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal said in the letter that continuous demonstrations and processions since July had affected business activity. The organisation claimed that Delhi’s traders suffered losses of Rs 14,000 crore between October 1 and November 1 because of protests, rallies and resulting traffic congestion.
According to the figures cited by CTI, daily traffic jams around Jantar Mantar and Connaught Place between October 1 and 30 affected business worth Rs 3,000 crore. The organisation said a large rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 caused a further disruption estimated at Rs 11,000 crore in a single day.
CTI claimed that around 2.5 lakh shops in Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazaar, Karol Bagh and Connaught Place remained closed during the November 1 rally. It estimated that retail and wholesale trade worth Rs 8,800 crore was halted, while transport, hotels and services, and daily-wage workers faced losses of Rs 1,500 crore, Rs 500 crore and Rs 200 crore respectively.
The figures are estimates released by the traders’ body and were not independently established in the supplied report. The warning nevertheless highlights the operational conflict created when high-footfall commercial districts are also used for demonstrations, marches and large public gatherings. Traffic diversions and restricted access can affect not only shop sales but also deliveries, public transport movement, workers’ access and customer footfall.
CTI said the period from Dhanteras through Diwali and Bhai Dooj, including November 6 to 11, is among the most important trading windows of the year. It claimed that continued protests during this period could affect the annual finances of Delhi’s estimated 20 lakh traders.
The traders’ body has asked the Delhi Police to prevent permission for rallies and protest marches at the listed locations until Bhai Dooj. The report does not state whether the police accepted the request, announced restrictions or issued a formal response. The next step will depend on the police decision on permissions and the proposed use of alternative rally sites.
