Protests in Delhi Cost Businesses ₹3,000 Crore, Disrupt Supply Chains: CTI
Ongoing protests in Delhi have led to a staggering ₹3,000 crore loss for businesses, disrupting supply chains and retail sectors.
New Delhi, October 17 (Daily Kiran) : Ongoing protests in New Delhi have resulted in significant financial losses for local businesses, totaling approximately ₹3,000 crore, according to the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI). The organization expressed concern over the impact of these demonstrations, which have disrupted supply chains and hindered commercial activities.
CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal highlighted that the initial protest on October 10 incurred losses of around ₹2,000 crore. Additionally, the road blockades and metro closures from October 13 to 16 caused further damages of about ₹1,000 crore.
The retail sector has been particularly hard-hit, suffering losses estimated at ₹1,800 crore due to halted purchases during the peak shopping periods of Navratri and Diwali. Over 700 markets across Delhi, including prominent areas like Sadar Bazaar, Chandni Chowk, and Connaught Place, have felt the effects.
Furthermore, the absence of 300,000 to 400,000 wholesale buyers from regions such as Sonipat, Panipat, Gurugram, and Noida has led to an additional loss of ₹600 crore in wholesale trade. The disruption in truck movements has also fractured supply chains, leaving goods intended for the festivals stuck in warehouses.
CTI reported that the hospitality and service sectors faced losses of ₹300 crore, while transport, auto-taxis, and tourism saw a decline of ₹180 crore. The informal sector, including daily wage workers and artisans, suffered losses of ₹120 crore.
Goyal warned that if protests continue weekly, the losses could exceed ₹10,000 crore by Diwali. The CTI is urging the government to impose a complete ban on demonstrations in central areas of Delhi until the festival season concludes. They also recommend designating protest zones in outer Delhi areas like Burari and Rohini. Additionally, business relief packages, discounts on electricity and water bills, and GST exemptions are being requested. The organization is calling for police to ensure that shopkeepers are not pressured to close their businesses.
