IndiaPosted at: Oct 30 2026 7:44PM


Delhi traders urge Sonia Gandhi to defer November 1 rally, flag Rs 12,000 crore business disruption

New Delhi, Oct 30 (UNI) The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has urged senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to intervene and postpone the INDIA bloc's November 1 mega rally at Ramlila Maidan, warning that it could disrupt business worth Rs 10,000-12,000 crore across Delhi's major markets during the peak Diwali shopping season.
In a letter dated October 30, CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal sought postponement of the rally until November 10-11 or later, or shifting the venue to Burari Ground if the scheduled date could not be changed. The traders' body estimated that around 10 lakh participants and 15,000-20,000 vehicles could converge on central Delhi, triggering severe traffic congestion.
The appeal comes ahead of Dhanteras on November 6 and Diwali on November 8, with November 1 being a crucial day for traders to transport festive stocks and replenish inventories. Goyal clarified that the association was not opposing the rally but was concerned about the impact on traders' livelihoods during the festive season.
CTI flagged inadequate parking facilities at Ramlila Maidan, pointing out that the venue cannot accommodate even 200 large buses. It apprehended that vehicles would spill onto major roads, including JLN Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and routes around Ajmeri Gate and Chandni Chowk, disrupting traffic across central and old Delhi.
The association identified nearly 20 wholesale and retail markets within a five-kilometre radius of the venue, including Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazaar, Connaught Place, Khari Baoli, Bhagirath Palace, Chawri Bazaar, Karol Bagh and Daryaganj. These markets collectively record an estimated daily turnover of Rs 10,000-12,000 crore and supply goods to different parts of the country, it said.
According to CTI, around 5,000 trucks and tempos bring merchandise daily from 56 industrial areas, including Narela, Bawana, Okhla, Mayapuri and Mundka, while nearly 3,000 goods vehicles transport consignments to NCR cities and other states.
The traders' body warned that disruptions could begin on October 31 itself, with buses and other vehicles expected to arrive at Delhi's borders, including Singhu, Tikri, Ghazipur and Badarpur. It also apprehended that barricading and traffic restrictions could affect the movement of goods vehicles from the previous evening.
Citing an earlier instance, CTI said a gathering of around 5,000-7,000 people at Jantar Mantar on October 10 had caused traffic congestion in central Delhi for nearly eight hours. It feared that the proposed rally, expected to draw a much larger crowd, could have a wider impact. The disruption could also discourage shoppers arriving from neighbouring towns and cities, it added.
The 'Chalo Dilli Ramlila March' has been called by the opposition INDIA bloc to protest alleged electoral irregularities and raise concerns over democratic institutions and the Constitution. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has appealed to people across political affiliations to join the demonstration.
The CTI said it had earlier approached Congress' Rahul Gandhi seeking a change in the schedule and had now appealed to Sonia Gandhi to consider its request.
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Tags: #Delhi traders urge Sonia Gandhi to defer November 1 rally# flag Rs 12#000 crore business disruption
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