Delhi Traders Claim Rs 3,000 Crore Losses Due to Protests, Supply Disruptions

Traders in the national capital have suffered estimated losses of around Rs 3,000 crore due to a series of protests and related disruptions this month, with road closures and restrictions on movement affecting retail sales, wholesale trade and supply chains during the crucial festive season, the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) said on Saturday.

CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal said the protest held on October 10 caused an estimated loss of Rs 2,000 crore, while blockades and the closure of metro services and Central Park in central Delhi between October 13 and 16 resulted in an additional loss of Rs 1,000 crore.

According to the traders' body, the retail sector has been hit hardest, with losses estimated at Rs 1,800 crore as shopping activity slowed during Navratri and ahead of Diwali. More than 700 markets across Delhi have reportedly been affected, including Sadar Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Kashmiri Gate, Chawri Bazar, Bhagirath Place, Gandhi Nagar, Naya Bazar, Khari Baoli, Karawal Nagar, Karol Bagh, Lajpat Rai Market and Connaught Place.

Wholesale trade has suffered estimated losses of around Rs 600 crore, CTI said, attributing the decline to the reduced arrival of three to four lakh wholesale buyers from Sonipat, Panipat, Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida, Ghaziabad and Rajasthan.

The industry body also flagged disruptions in the movement of goods, saying trucks had been unable to operate normally and festival-related consignments were lying in warehouses, affecting deliveries to retailers.

The hospitality and services sector has incurred estimated losses of Rs 300 crore, while transport, auto-rickshaw and taxi services, and tourism have suffered losses of around Rs 180 crore. The informal sector, including daily-wage workers, artisans and loading staff, has reported losses of approximately Rs 120 crore, according to CTI.

Emphasising the importance of the festive season for businesses, Goyal warned that the losses could exceed Rs 10,000 crore by Diwali if protests continued every week.

“Navratri, Ramleela and Diwali are the only month for us to earn for the whole year. If protests continue every week, the loss will cross Rs 10,000 crore by Diwali,” he said.

CTI has urged the government to prohibit sit-in demonstrations and protests in central Delhi, New Delhi and the Lutyens' Zone until Diwali. It also proposed designated protest areas in outer Delhi, including Burari, Rohini and Dwarka, for future demonstrations.

Seeking financial relief, the traders' body called for a package to compensate businesses for the losses it estimates at Rs 3,000 crore in October. Its demands include exemptions from electricity and water bills and relief on the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

CTI also urged the police to avoid pressuring shopkeepers to close their establishments and instead ensure adequate security so that markets can remain operational.

The demands come as traders seek to protect sales during one of the busiest periods of the year, when festive shopping typically supports retail activity, wholesale distribution, transport services and informal employment.

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