Azadpur APMC runs night raids to clear illegal vendors

The Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) at Azadpur Mandi has been conducting a series of special anti-encroachment drives since May 2026.

The drive aims to clear unauthorised vendors, illegal structures, and unlicensed traders from Asia’s largest wholesale fruit and vegetable market, with the most recent operation conducted at night on July 16 in the D-Block of New Sabzi Mandi.

All seized fresh produce that is collected during the drive is distributed to registered orphanages and children’s homes across Delhi rather than being allowed to go to waste.

The campaign, running through both business hours and night hours, has been carried out jointly by APMC Azadpur’s enforcement branch, the E&M branch, and the security branch, with police support from the SHO of Mahendra Park police station.

The first major operation was conducted on May 30, targeting Sheds 7, 9, 13, and the C-Block crossing of New Sabzi Mandi. During the drive at Shed 13, unlicensed vendors who were illegally occupying space fled when they saw the enforcement team approaching, while goods belonging to other unauthorised occupants were seized on the spot. After a detailed discussion with licensed traders at Shed 13, it was decided to deploy additional round-the-clock security guards at the location to prevent any future unauthorised occupation.

In the C-Block area of New Sabzi Mandi, the joint team, with police support, removed unauthorised vendors who had been selling fruit and vegetables from handcarts, footpaths, and the roadway.

Illegal handcarts and other unauthorised structures were demolished using APMC’s JCB machine, and the remaining goods were seized.

Showing quick administrative response, on June 7, a Sunday, information was received that a 20-by-20-foot illegal tin shed structure had been erected on land reserved for the MNI Azadpur park. Enforcement and security staff immediately removed the temporary structure.

A further special drive was conducted on June 30 in the NFM and NSM areas of Azadpur to remove hawkers and unauthorised fruit and vegetable vendors who had been causing traffic jams and vehicle congestion at these locations.