The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) on Tuesday wrote to the Delhi Police Commissioner, demanding that no rallies, sit-ins or protest marches be permitted at major locations in the national capital, including Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar and Ramlila Maidan, until November 11, the day of ‘Bhaiya Dooj’.
The traders’ body expressed concern about the financial losses businesses have suffered due to frequent demonstrations and traffic disruptions over the past month. It urged the police to ensure that no further protests are allowed at prominent locations, particularly in Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar, Ramlila Maidan, India Gate, Rajghat, Delhi Gate, Central Delhi and Old Delhi, until the festive period concludes.
CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal said traders had already suffered substantial financial losses due to rallies and sit-ins and were no longer in a position to bear further disruptions, particularly during the peak festive shopping season.
According to the CTI’s estimates, businesses in Delhi suffered losses of approximately Rs 14,000 crore between October 1 and November 1. The CTI claimed that frequent demonstrations and protest marches at Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place, Patel Chowk and Janpath throughout October led to persistent traffic congestion in Central Delhi.
As a result, retail businesses, hotels, restaurants and transport operators in Connaught Place, Janpath, Palika Bazaar, Khan Market, Karol Bagh, Paharganj and Kamala Market suffered estimated losses of around Rs 3,000 crore between October 1 and October 30.
The traders’ body claimed that the mega rally organised at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 alone resulted in business losses of approximately Rs 11,000 crore across several sectors. Of this, the retail and wholesale trade sector accounted for an estimated Rs 8,800 crore in losses.
The CTI said around three lakh shops operate within a five-kilometre radius of Ramlila Maidan, covering major commercial hubs such as Kashmere Gate, Mori Gate, Chandni Chowk, Chawri Bazaar, Khari Baoli, Naya Bazaar, Sadar Bazaar, Ajmeri Gate, Daryaganj, Paharganj, Kamala Market, Jama Masjid, Bhagirath Palace, Lajpat Rai Market, Kinari Bazaar, Dariba Kalan, Ballimaran, Fatehpuri, Tilak Bazaar, Connaught Place, Palika Bazaar, Gaffar Market and Karol Bagh.
It claimed that around 2.5 lakh shops remained completely shut on the day of the rally, bringing nearly 80 per cent of commercial activity to a standstill. The organisation said the rally coincided with one of the year’s busiest shopping periods, immediately ahead of Dhanteras on November 6 and Diwali on November 8.
It further claimed that the rally created panic among nearly 3-4 lakh customers who regularly visit Delhi’s markets from around 100 neighbouring cities and towns, including Sonipat, Panipat, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida, Meerut, Bahadurgarh and Jhajjar. Many customers reportedly cancelled their shopping plans.
The CTI estimated losses of Rs 1,500 crore in the transport and logistics sector, claiming that movement of vehicles and goods within a 10-kilometre radius of Ramlila Maidan was severely disrupted. Loading and unloading operations reportedly halted, affecting the movement of goods across major markets.
According to the traders’ body, around 5,000 trucks and tempos carrying goods from 56 industrial areas, including Narela, Bawana, Okhla, Mayapuri, Mundka and Udyog Nagar, arrive in these markets daily. Another 3,000 trucks transport goods from Delhi to different parts of the country, including the National Capital Region (NCR).