The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, wrote to the Delhi Police Commissioner demanding an immediate ban on all rallies, sit-ins and protest marches at key locations in New Delhi — including Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar and Ramlila Maidan — until 11 November, the day of Bhaiya Dooj. The traders' body claims Delhi businesses have suffered estimated losses of approximately ₹14,000 crore between 1 October and 1 November owing to frequent demonstrations and the traffic disruptions they caused.

Scale of Estimated Losses

According to the CTI's estimates, persistent protest activity at Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place, Patel Chowk and Janpath throughout October generated traffic congestion severe enough to inflict losses of around ₹3,000 crore on retail businesses, hotels, restaurants and transport operators across Connaught Place, Janpath, Palika Bazaar, Khan Market, Karol Bagh, Paharganj and Kamala Market.

The single largest hit, the CTI claims, came from the mega rally held at Ramlila Maidan on 1 November, which it says wiped out an estimated ₹11,000 crore in business across several sectors. Of this, the retail and wholesale trade sector accounted for roughly ₹8,800 crore, according to the body's own calculations.

Ramlila Maidan Rally: What the CTI Says Happened

The CTI states that around three lakh shops operate within a five-kilometre radius of Ramlila Maidan, spanning major commercial hubs such as Kashmere Gate, Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazaar, Daryaganj and Connaught Place, among others. It claims that approximately 2.5 lakh shops — nearly 80 per cent of commercial activity in the area — remained completely shut on the day of the rally.

The traders' body further alleged that the disruption triggered panic among an estimated 3–4 lakh customers who travel to Delhi's markets from around 100 neighbouring cities and towns, including Sonipat, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Noida and Meerut, many of whom reportedly cancelled their shopping plans.

Notably, the rally fell just days before Dhanteras on 6 November and Diwali on 8 November — traditionally the peak of the annual retail calendar.

Supply Chain and Hospitality Impact

The CTI estimated losses of ₹1,500 crore in the transport and logistics sector, saying that movement within a 10-kilometre radius of Ramlila Maidan was severely disrupted. It claimed around 5,000 trucks and tempos carrying goods from 56 industrial areas — including Narela, Bawana, Okhla and Mayapuri — arrive in these markets daily, and that the entire supply chain was brought to a halt. Buses, cars and tempos reportedly remained stranded on JLN Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and Netaji Subhash Marg.

Hotels, restaurants and the hospitality sector reportedly suffered losses of around ₹500 crore, with bookings cancelled at more than 2,000 hotels, restaurants and guest houses across Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Paharganj and Chandni Chowk. The informal sector and daily-wage workers — including loaders, auto-rickshaw drivers, street vendors and porters — suffered an estimated ₹200 crore in lost earnings, with nearly 20 lakh workers affected, according to CTI.

CTI's Three Demands

CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal said traders were 'no longer in a position to bear further losses' and outlined three formal demands to the Delhi Police Commissioner. First, no rallies, protests or demonstrations should be permitted at Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar, Ramlila Maidan or India Gate until 11 November. Second, alternative venues such as Burari, Alipur, Jasola and Yamuna Khadar should be designated for demonstrations. Third, smooth traffic flow and adequate parking should be ensured across Central Delhi throughout the festive season.

Goyal warned that traders would be compelled to surrender the keys to their shops to rally organisers if disruptions continued during the critical festive window. He noted that the next 10 days represent the biggest business opportunity of the year for approximately 20 lakh traders and 75 lakh employees associated with Delhi's commercial establishments.

What Comes Next

The Delhi Police Commissioner is yet to respond publicly to the CTI's letter. The festive period culminating in Bhaiya Dooj on 11 November will be a critical test of whether authorities balance the right to protest with the city's commercial interests during its most lucrative retail window of the year.