The Hindu : New Delhi News : "Sunday Bazaar'' fails to attract many customers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 20, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

"Sunday Bazaar'' fails to attract many customers

Staff Reporter

Civic body warns of strict action against those obstructing smooth flow of traffic

BARGAIN: The 'Kabari Bazar', which was re-opened after a gap of five years, near the Yamuna Velodrome, Indraprastha Estate on Sunday. Photo: V.V.Krishnan

NEW DELHI: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi's idea of restarting the "Sunday Bazaar", popularly known as "Kabari Bazaar", at Velodrome Road next to Delhi Secretariat (Players Building) has so far failed to attract many tehbazari holders as well as customers.

For the third consecutive weekend, not many people thronged the market after it was opened on May 29. Of the 1,150-odd-licence holders, not even 100 have started selling their wares at the new venue. Moreover, the idea to shift the Sunday book market from Darya Ganj to the same location has also not been successful so far.

It was in May this year that the civic body, which ordered removal of "Kabari Bazaar" from the Red Fort lawns over a couple of years ago, decided to reopen it and choose the Velodrome Road as its new venue. It was also decided that to decongest the busy Darya Ganj Road, the Sunday book market would also be shifted to the same venue.

Parking

According to a senior MCD official, when the Kabari Bazaar was removed from the Red Fort lawns, most of those operating from there had shifted to Darya Ganj Road, Subhash Marg and its surrounding areas causing inconvenience to local people besides affecting smooth flow of traffic. It was decided to shift the market to a more spacious place.

The civic body has allowed the market only on the footpath along Velodrome Road, while 500 metres space from Ring Road side has been reserved for parking. It has also warned of strict action against those obstructing smooth flow of traffic on Ring Road, while rickshaw carrying material for the weekly market are also not being permitted to ply on the busy Ring Road. The MCD has, however, decided that in case of any sports event or official function at the stadium, no market would be allowed. Similarly, no bazaar would be allowed to function if there were any function at Raj Ghat.

On Sunday, Municipal Commissioner Rakesh Mehta inspected the area and various facilities being provided for the market. He directed officials concerned to ensure that markets being run from the footpaths in and around Darya Ganj were shifted to the new venue. Initially, the plan was to give spaces to at least 500 licence-holders, but not even 100 people have shifted to the new venue.

Meanwhile, the Corporation has asked the members of the Kabari Bazaar Association to shift to the new venue and warned that no further activity at Darya Ganj would be allowed. It has been decided to allow only the 1,150-odd Association members to set up their shops every Sunday for which they would have to carry their identity cards.

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