Delhi’s trade and transport bodies have opposed the designation of Ramlila Maidan as a protest venue, warning that demonstrations at the central Delhi ground could disrupt wholesale markets, freight movement and road connectivity across the Delhi-6 commercial district.
The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) and the All India Motor and Goods Transport Association (AIMGTA) have separately asked authorities to remove Ramlila Maidan from the list of designated protest sites. Their objections follow a standing order issued by Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar on October 11, naming Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as new venues for protests and demonstrations.
The police order said the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had constituted a committee to examine alternative venues where citizens could exercise their right to organise protests and demonstrations. The new arrangement follows the denotification of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site. Ramlila Maidan is around four kilometres from Jantar Mantar, while CBD Ground in east Delhi is 12 to 13 kilometres away and Burari Ground in north Delhi is nearly 21 kilometres away.
CTI welcomed the removal of Jantar Mantar from the list but said Ramlila Maidan’s proximity to major wholesale markets could create significant operational problems. The organisation identified markets including Sadar Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Chawri Bazar, Khari Baoli, Bhagirath Place, Kashmere Gate, Paharganj and Daryaganj as potentially affected areas.
CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal said the organisation had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi the previous week seeking the removal of Jantar Mantar as a protest venue. While traders welcomed that decision, Goyal said the inclusion of Ramlila Maidan was a concern because the ground is close to Delhi-6, a major commercial hub containing wholesale markets and trading centres.
According to the CTI statement, markets within an approximately five-kilometre radius of Ramlila Maidan include Kamla Market, Chawri Bazar, Naya Bazar, Sadar Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Khari Baoli, Lajpat Rai Market, Bhagirath Place, Kashmere Gate, Paharganj, Ajmeri Gate and Daryaganj. The organisation said protests could result in barricading, metro station closures and traffic restrictions, affecting traders, customers and the movement of goods, particularly during the festive season.
AIMGTA has also written to the Delhi Police commissioner seeking Ramlila Maidan’s exclusion from the designated venues. In its October 12 letter, the association said the ground was surrounded by prominent wholesale markets and located close to New Delhi Railway Station, with connections to major roads leading towards the station and adjoining areas.
The transport body warned that large gatherings could cause congestion, obstruct commercial movement and create law-and-order challenges if protesters moved towards New Delhi or other sensitive areas. It said wholesale markets depended on reliable road connectivity and timely movement of goods, while traffic restrictions, diversions or prolonged congestion could delay consignments and increase transportation costs.
The dispute places Delhi’s protest-management framework alongside the logistical needs of one of the capital’s most important trading clusters. The police order identifies the designated venues, while the trade bodies are seeking a revision before the new arrangement affects market access, deliveries and public movement. The authorities’ response to the requests will determine whether Ramlila Maidan remains on the list.
