Big shift that’s stuck

Shifting the wholesale markets dealing with hazardous good in the Walled City remains an uphill task for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

Shifting the wholesale markets dealing with hazardous good in the Walled City remains an uphill task for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

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Though a high court order and provisions of the Master Plan 2021 makes it mandatory for the agency to shift these markets to the outskirts of Delhi but till date nothing has been done.

The Walled City is home to Asia's largest wholesale markets such as the steel and transport market at Hauz Kazi, food grain market at Naya Bazaar, spice market at Tilak Bazaar and chemical market at Lal Kuan.

"We have been hearing it for the past many years that

these markets will be shifted but nothing has been done till now. Not only these markets add to the traffic congestion but also pose risk of several health hazards. The traders and transporters use the roads as thoroughfares which involves movement of heavy vehicles," said Sanjay Bhargava, general secretary of Chandni Chowk Vypaar Mandal.

Though those carrying out wholesale business have been allotted alternate space in places such as Holambi Kalan, Dwarka, Narela and Ghazipur, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is yet to ready the place.