CTI Urges Congress to Postpone November 1 Rally, Citing Potential Trade Disruptions in Delhi

The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has appealed to Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi to postpone the political rally planned for November 1 at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi until after Diwali. The traders' organisation stated that the event could disrupt business in 20 major markets during the peak festive season, potentially affecting trade worth ₹10,000 to ₹12,000 crore.

According to the CTI, the traders have suggested two alternatives: either rescheduling the rally to November 10-11 or later, or shifting the venue from Ramlila Maidan to Burari Ground. CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal noted that the organisation had previously written three letters to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding the timing before approaching Sonia Gandhi.

Concerns Over Peak Festive Season and Traffic

• Impact on Markets: The CTI highlighted that major wholesale and retail markets in central and old Delhi—such as Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Connaught Place, Khari Baoli, Bhagirath Palace, Kashmere Gate, Chawri Bazar, Karol Bagh, and Dariba Kalan—could be affected.
• Logistics and Supply Chain: The organisation stated that thousands of trucks and tempos transport goods daily from industrial areas and neighboring cities. Disruptions could begin as early as October 31 due to arriving buses and potential police barricading.
• Parking and Congestion: The traders' body raised concerns that Ramlila Maidan lacks adequate parking for the estimated vehicles transporting participants, which could lead to severe traffic jams on major routes like JLN Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, and Netaji Subhash Marg.

Differing Estimates and Security Preparations

While the Congress party has claimed that around 10 lakh people are expected to participate in the INDIA bloc rally against alleged irregularities, Delhi Police estimated a gathering of approximately 50,000 people. Police authorities have planned to deploy around 3,500 personnel for security and crowd management at Ramlila Maidan, one of Delhi's designated protest sites.

*Readers can verify official political announcements and local traffic advisories through statements released by the Delhi Police and respective political parties.*