Traders in Delhi have urged the Congress to postpone its planned rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 till after Diwali. They have warned that the event could cause traffic jams in some areas of the city and result in losses for businesses of up to Rs 10,000 crore during the busiest holiday shopping season.
In a letter to Congressman Rahul Gandhi, the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), which speaks for business owners and dealers in Delhi, requests a modification of the rally date. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has also received a copy of the letter from CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal, asking him to speak with alliance partners about the matter.
Goyal said in a statement on October 27 that vendors working in the marketplaces surrounding Ramlila Maidan were concerned about the potential for road closures and barricading in advance of the planned event.
Rahul Gandhi's social media post on Monday about the planned protest sparked the worry. The message has increased traders' nervousness, according to CTI, as they worry that the rally will continue at one of the busiest times of the year for Delhi's retail and wholesale companies.
The possibility that limits could start as early as October 31, the day before the rally, worries traders in particular.
If roads were blocked or obstructed, CTI questioned if stores could open on October 31 and November 1 and whether consumers could get to the marketplaces.
It is possible for up to 20,000 cars to enter Delhi.
Congress leaders have suggested that almost 10 lakh people from all over India could join the event, according to CTI. The traders' group projects that between 15,000 and 20,000 automobiles may enter Delhi and travel to Ramlila Maidan based on that anticipated turnout.
According to its projections, 10,000–12,000 large busses and an additional 5,000–7,000 smaller vehicles, such as cars, minibusses, and tempo travelers, may be needed to move such a population.
Goyal expressed worries about where these cars would be stored, saying that even 200 cars could not fit in the authorized parking lots surrounding Ramlila Maidan.
The transfer of goods, shoppers, and traders could all be negatively impacted by the terrible traffic within a 10-kilometer radius caused by the enormous number of vehicles moving toward the site, according to CTI.
The actual turnout and traffic arrangements have not yet been determined; the attendance and vehicle numbers are CTI's predictions.
DELHI COMPANIES WILL BE HIT
According to CTI, Ramlila Maidan is encircled by some of Delhi's busiest business districts, with access routes going through regions that deal with a significant amount of retail and wholesale trade.
Chandni Chowk, Bhagirath Palace, Khari Baoli, Sadar Bazaar, Chawri Bazaar, Kashmere Gate, Nabi Karim, Karol Bagh, Ajmeri Gate, Daryaganj, Nai Sarak, Kinari Bazaar, Dariba Kalan, Fatehpuri, Lahori Gate, Filmistan, Paharganj, Ghaffar Market, Jama Masjid, the Red Fort-Lajpat Rai Market area, and Naya Bazaar are among the 21 markets and commercial areas that could be impacted.
Electrical equipment, spices, dried fruits, auto parts, jewelry, literature, furniture, machinery, and foodgrains are all traded at these markets.
According to CTI, traffic management may be especially challenging in some areas of Old Delhi due to the narrow lanes, some of which are only 10 to 12 feet wide.
The organization claims that congestion can linger for several hours if just one truck gets stalled in one of these lanes.
The traders' organization is concerned that vehicle movement limitations may have an impact not just on consumers but also on wholesale deliveries and the movement of goods across the nation.
EARLIER DISRUPTION FALLOUT
CTI used an October 10 event at Jantar Mantar, which it claimed drew just 3,000 to 4,000 people but caused widespread traffic problems in central Delhi, to bolster its worries.
According to the organization, the disruption caused dealers to lose Rs 3,000 crore.
Goyal cautioned that a 10 lakh-person crowd at Ramlila Maidan might have a far bigger effect and possibly halt trading across Old Delhi.
According to CTI estimates, if traffic restrictions impede clients, merchants, and delivery vehicles from accessing the markets, the November 1 rise might result in losses of up to Rs 10,000 crore.
The traders' body offered the loss estimates, which have not been independently confirmed. The scale of the event, the traffic arrangements, and the length of any limitations would determine the final effect.
The Congress leadership has been persuaded by CTI to postpone the rally until after the holiday season, with a date after November 10 being suggested.
The group claimed that delaying the ceremony will assist safeguard commercial activities during the important Diwali shopping season, when demand for apparel, jewelry, electronics, home goods, and other items usually increases.
CTI has recommended relocating the rally from Ramlila Maidan to a larger open space, like Burari Ground or Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, if altering the date is not feasible.
These sites, according to the traders' group, would lessen the possibility of disturbance to the crowded retail and wholesale marketplaces around Ramlila Maidan.
Goyal has urged the Congress leadership to take traders' concerns into account and come up with a solution that permits the political meeting without negatively impacting business operations.
