Alleging that markets situated in the old Delhi area had been overlooked in relation to amendments to the Master Plan for Delhi-2021, the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) on Saturday made fresh demands including the de-sealing of thousands of shops and their designation as a special area.
The traders’ body alleged that the BJP-led Centre had followed a pick and choose policy of ensuring relief for some markets and had deliberately ignored the concerns of Old Delhi markets.
“The traders of old Delhi are not happy with the notification of the amendments and their immediate concern is the lack of designation of these under the special area category,” CTI convenor Brijesh Goyal alleged.
Pre-1963 markets
Four markets, Mr. Goyal said, which included Lajpat Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Tilak Nagar and Rajouri Garden were provided relief given their status as pre-1963 markets.
At the same time, he argued, all the markets located in Old Delhi, such as Chandni Chowk, Chawri Bazar, Kashmere Gate, Mori Gate, Sadar Bazar and Karol Bagh, among others which had been earlier kept under the special area category were no longer demarcated as such. “The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had sought suggestions recently and it was suggested that these markets be re-designated as special areas, but our suggestions were completely ignored,” he said.
The traders’ body demanded that Old Delhi markets, like others, also be provided relief from conversion and parking charges, the utilisation of already collected conversion charges by civic bodies for the development of such markets and the implementation of the redevelopment of such markets under the special area category.
