Delhi’s priciest markets pay the price for protests

India Protest After Midnight Photo Gallery — Retailers in Khan Market and Connaught Place report a 90% drop in footfall due to ongoing protests

New Delhi: Retailers in Khan Market and Connaught Place, two of New Delhi’s most expensive shopping districts, are facing a sharp drop in business ahead of the festive season as protests in central Delhi deter shoppers and disrupt store operations.

Footfall has fallen by as much as 90% over the past three days, traders said, adding to losses from earlier protests that had forced shops to close for more than two weeks. The disruptions threaten to undermine the recovery of in-store shopping as retailers stock up for the festive season, one of their busiest periods of the year.

Also Read: Delhi markets shut amid protests: Khan Market, Connaught Place, South Extension traders fear Rs 1.5 lakh loss per shop

The traders’ associations representing Khan Market and Connaught Place are preparing to approach the Supreme Court to seek a shift of the protest site from Jantar Mantar. Although the site has already been de-notified, retailers fear the decision could be challenged in court.

“Regular protests are hurting our revenue. After COVID, it took time for in-store shopping to return to normal, but these repeated disruptions are now derailing that recovery. People are afraid to come shopping even when the stores are open,” said Sanjeev Mehra, president of the Khan Market Traders’ Association.

Retailers estimate that each day of closure costs shops in the two markets between Rs 60,000 and Rs 3.5 lakh, depending on their size. The losses include foregone sales as well as fixed expenses such as rent and employee salaries.

The timing of the disruptions has added to traders’ concerns, with businesses building up inventory in anticipation of stronger festive-season demand.

“This is the beginning of the festive season, when retailers stock up for the peak shopping period. But repeated protests have forced shops to close, and even when they reopen, footfall is down 90% compared with the same period last year,” said Atul Bhargav, president of the New Delhi Traders Association, which represents businesses in Connaught Place.

Retailers have also been worried by security-related advisories over the past three days. Some shop owners said employees were reluctant to report for work because of safety concerns and disruptions to public transport.

“Most of our employees commute by metro, and services have been disrupted for the past three days. No one wants to risk their safety getting to work. Many employees are reluctant to come in, even when we want to open our shops. We hope the situation returns to normal soon,” said a Connaught Place retailer.

Beyond the immediate loss of sales, traders fear prolonged disruptions could damage the reputation of the two shopping districts and prompt premium brands to reconsider their presence there.

Also Read: Connaught Place shuts ahead of CJP protest, traders brace for Rs 2,000 crore hit

Both markets attract affluent Indian shoppers and foreign visitors, making them important destinations for premium retail brands.

“These markets have several premium brands, and many foreign delegates prefer to shop here. Repeated closures are creating a negative impression that will be difficult to reverse,” another trader said.

For retailers, the immediate priority is to recover sales during the festive season. But if disruptions persist, they fear shoppers could turn to malls and online platforms, further weakening business in the traditional retail districts.