Raahgiri security concerns raised
The New Delhi Traders' Association (NDTA) has strongly opposed the proposed Raahgiri Day in Connaught Place on October 4 and urged NDMC to shift the event to a non-commercial venue, citing property damage, traffic chaos, law-and-order concerns, and business losses during previous editions.
In a letter to NDMC Chairman Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, the traders' body said Connaught Place was “fundamentally a business and commercial district, not a cultural or recreational hub”. It claimed that shopkeepers and traders had opposed earlier Raahgiri events because of losses and traffic congestion.
According to the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Connaught Place's Inner Circle will go car-free on Sunday as Raahgiri Day brings cycling, fitness activities, street performances and live music to the heart of the national Capital. The event, organised by the Raahgiri Foundation, Delhi Traffic Police and Fit India, in association with the NDMC, will be held on October 4.
Popular Indian rock band Euphoria will perform live at Central Park, alongside local cultural performances and a range of activities open to the public, a statement said. The programme will be held in partnership with Fit India's 'Sundays on Cycle' initiative, with citizens encouraged to participate in community cycling drives and fitness activities.
“The Inner Circle will host demonstrations and activities centred on walkability, cycling and non-motorised transport. Sports activities, street art and interactive workshops will also be organised, with programmes focusing on youth participation, civic engagement and environmental awareness,” the statement said. The event will also serve as the curtain-raiser for Urban Adda '26, a three-day conference on urban transformation scheduled to be held at the India Habitat Centre from October 5 to 7. With motorised vehicles making way for pedestrians and cyclists, the organisers said the event will provide citizens an opportunity to experience Connaught Place as a more people-friendly public space.
The association said previous events had resulted in “multiple incidents of violence, property damage, traffic chaos and severe loss of business due to chaotic vehicular restrictions”, according to the letter.
It also claimed that during earlier Raahgiri Days, “glass panels and windows were broken by an unruly crowd”, while shop fronts, fixtures and public property were damaged. The association further claimed that an incident of stabbing had been reported to police during one such event, highlighting what it described as “serious law-and-order risks associated with large, uncontrolled crowds in CP”.
The traders' body said restrictions on vehicular movement also disrupted supplies to restaurants and shops and affected weekend business. “Restaurants, showrooms and retail outlets suffered loss of business as customers avoided the area due to traffic restrictions and perceived insecurity,” the letter said.
The association also raised concerns over garbage and litter, saying large quantities of waste were thrown around the Inner and Outer Circles, including in front of shops and eateries, while public property was defaced.
The traders also flagged concerns over the safety of women, children and senior citizens, alleging incidents of eve-teasing and misbehaviour by anti-social elements during earlier events.
The association has requested that the October 4 event not be held in Connaught Place and be “permanently shifted to a more suitable, non-commercial, open venue”.
