The Chandni Chowk Nagrik Manch has expressed grave concern over the growing encroachment and illegal street vending in the markets of Chandni Chowk, Khari Baoli, Nai Sarak, and SP Mukherjee Marg.
The Chandni Chowk Nagrik Manch alleged that these areas have been turned into unauthorised street markets under the political protection of AAP MLAs and councillors.
Praveen Shankar Kapoor, General Secretary of the Chandni Chowk Nagrik Manch, has appealed to Delhi Police Joint Commissioner Madhur Verma and Municipal Commissioner Ashwani Kumar to take urgent action to clear the encroachments and restore order in Old Delhi’s congested lanes.
Kapoor stated that the situation has reached alarming levels, with illegal parking and encroachments choking the main roads of Khari Baoli, Chandni Chowk, and Nai Sarak. “The condition is so serious that in case of an emergency, it would be impossible for a fire brigade or ambulance to enter these areas,” he said.
He further alleged that despite losing power in Delhi, AAP MLAs and councillors from Old Delhi continue to exert control and have shown “no concern for local traders or residents.” According to him, under their political patronage, members of a particular community have illegally occupied the pavements to run unregulated markets, disrupting traffic and endangering public safety.
Kapoor also alleged the operation of a large-scale mafia managing thousands of unauthorised rickshaws and e-rickshaws, which further add to the chaos in the narrow lanes of Old Delhi. “The situation has become so bad that a 15-minute walking distance from Red Fort to Khari Baoli Lahori Gate now takes over an hour by rickshaw,” he said.
The Chandni Chowk Nagrik Manch emphasised that while the markets appear bustling with activity due to the presence of unauthorised street vendors, actual customers are unable to reach legitimate shops, causing losses to genuine traders. “The illusion of crowd and business hides the reality that legal shop owners are suffering because of encroachment and lack of enforcement,” Kapoor added.
The Nagrik Manch has urged the Delhi Police and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to take strict and sustained action against illegal vendors and remove all forms of encroachment to restore normalcy and ensure emergency access in the historic commercial heart of Delhi.
