Representatives of the capital's business community have once again voiced concerns regarding the planned Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1. The trade organization Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) sent a letter to Sonia Gandhi, the chairman of the Congress party wing, demanding that the rally be held after the Diwali holidays.
According to the organization, up to one million people are expected to attend the mass event. This could lead to serious disruptions in traffic movement in the central and old Delhi areas, which would significantly impact commercial activities. CTI notes that approximately 20 large wholesale and retail markets are located around Ramlila Maidan, with daily turnover reaching 10–12 thousand crore rupees.
The organization fears that the large number of buses, cars, and other vehicles during the rally will hinder the delivery of goods to the markets and their removal, which could negatively affect the most important festive trading season. CTI Chairman, Brijnesh Goel, emphasized that the organization is not against the Congress rally but merely requests a change in date, taking into account the livelihoods of traders and the holiday season.
He reminded that Dhanteras falls on November 6, and Diwali on November 8, making November 1 a critically important day for purchases and supply of goods for traders.
In the letter addressed to Sonia Gandhi, CTI pointed out the lack of sufficient parking space for approximately 200 large buses at Ramlila Maidan. According to the organization's estimates, accommodating 1 million people would require 15 to 20 thousand vehicles, creating additional strain on the streets of central and old Delhi.
The organization warned that increased traffic on key routes such as JLN Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Netaji Subhash Marg, Ajmeri Gate, and Chandni Chowk Road could disrupt traffic flow. This would complicate access for both traders and ordinary citizens.
CTI mentioned several important markets located within a five-kilometer radius of Ramlila Maidan in its appeal. These include: Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Kannat Place, Palika Bazar, Janpath, Bhagirath Palace, Hari Bawli, Kashmiri Gate, Nai Bazar, Lajpat Rai Market, Chawdi Bazar, Kinari Bazar, Dariba Kalan, Ballimaran, Fatehpuri, Tilak Bazar, Karol Bagh, Jama Masjid, Nabi Karim, Gaffar Market, Ajmeri Gate-Paharganj, and Daryaganj.
The organization states that about five thousand trucks and tempos arrive daily at these markets, delivering goods from 56 industrial zones of Delhi. Furthermore, about three thousand trucks dispatch goods from here to NCR cities and other parts of the country. Traders fear that disruption of the transport system due to the rally could impede the supply of goods necessary for the festivals.
CTI also believes that the impact of the rally will not be limited to November 1. In the organization's view, traffic movement might increase at the borders of Singhu, Tikri, Gajipur, and Badarpur starting from noon on October 31. There is also speculation about barricades being set up on some main streets of central Delhi from the evening. Some transporters are already confused about sending vehicles to Delhi starting October 31.
Traders cited an event held on October 10 at Jantar Mantar, noting that even with the presence of five to seven thousand people in central Delhi, there was a traffic jam situation for eight hours. This raised concerns within the organization regarding the potential impact on traffic movement during the planned rally involving 1 million people.
In the letter sent to Sonia Gandhi, CTI proposed two solutions. The first option is to hold the rally after Diwali, i.e., after November 10–11, to avoid affecting trade during the festive period. The second option is, if the date remains unchanged, to change the venue from Ramlila Maidan to Buradi Maidan, where CTI claims it is possible to organize parking for about 15 thousand vehicles.
Brijnesh Goel stated that these markets are not just commercial centers but vital links in the economy of Delhi. He added that the organization had previously made a similar request to Rahul Gandhi regarding changing the rally date, but now hopes that Sonia Gandhi will understand the difficulties faced by the traders.