The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is planning to set up a “night food street” near the Salimgarh Fort-Red Fort area along the Yamuna where popular dishes from the Old Delhi area will be featured during the night hours. The market, which will operate from 6 pm to 10 pm, will feature street food vendors from Chandni Chowk, Ward No 74, showcasing the specialty dishes of Old Delhi. This initiative aims to promote the street food vendors of Old Delhi, prevent unauthorized encroachments, and provide a unique experience for food enthusiasts.

The market will not have any permanent structures, ensuring that vendors bring their carts during designated hours and remove them afterward. To ensure a smooth and disturbance-free experience for visitors, the MCD has written to various stakeholders, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), to streamline traffic movement. Initially, 50 street vendors with valid certificates will be allowed to participate in the market on a pilot basis.  “The MCD will charge a rent and sanitation fee from participating vendors, and the market will be confined to selling street food items only. The design and specifications of the food carts will be finalised based on the response from vendors and the public,” MCD said in a statement. “Vendors will bring their carts, sell during specific hours, and take them back. There will be no permanent construction at the site,” an MCD official said.

 Officials said  that the project aims to utilise the vacant space that was previously unused while also prevent future encroachments.  The civic body has invited applications from street vendors until April 11, after which a screening process will begin to select eligible vendors willing to participate.

This scrutiny is expected to take around three to four weeks, with progress visible by May 11, officials added.  To enhance the market’s appeal, the MCD plans to beautify the area with lighting and other decorative elements while ensuring necessary arrangements such as toilets, cleanliness, and garbage collection.

“The market will not have any permanent structures of any kind,” an official said, adding that the MCD will enhance the stretch with lighting and other beautification measures while ensuring facilities like toilets.

“Vendors will bring their carts, operate during designated hours, and take them back once done. Cleanliness and garbage collection will be properly managed,” the official added.  The market will be operational daily from 6 pm to 10 pm, according to a notice issued on April 3.