Heavy deployment, stir hitting livelihood, say traders and vendors in central Delhi
Traders and street vendors in central Delhi report significant financial losses due to heavy police barricading and protests against the Election Commission. Business owners note that the restrictions have deterred customers during the peak festive season.
Why it matters
It illustrates the economic impact of civil unrest and security measures on small-scale local businesses in urban centers.
Heavy deployment, stir hitting livelihood, say traders and vendors in central Delhi left Barricading at Connaught Place on Friday ahead of the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest in the area. PTI PTI https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/44fs23/article71594176.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/PTI10_16_2026_000115B.jpg ARUN SHARMA New Delhi: Barricading is seen ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) 'Lehra Do Tiranga' rally, at Connaught Place in New Delhi, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma)(PTI10_16_2026_000115B) NEW DELHI Traders and street vendors in central Delhi’s commercial hubs have reported a decline in business over the past two weeks amid heavy police deployment and barricading for protests against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. While traders in areas such as Janpath and Connaught Place (C.P.) acknowledge the right to peaceful protest, they differ on whether the demonstrations or the police restrictions have hurt their businesses more.
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