Connaught Place Shops Advised to Close Early at 6:30 PM Amid CJP Protest

The New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) issued an advisory circular instructing all shops, offices, and commercial establishments in Connaught Place (CP) to close by 6:30 PM today, citing security advisories from civic authorities amid the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at nearby Jantar Mantar.

What we can verify

• Early Shutdown Advisory: NDTA President Atul Bhargava confirmed that the circular was issued following verbal directions from the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to prevent property damage and ensure public safety.
• Business & Commute Disruptions: Traders reported a 70% drop in business over the past three days, with customer footfall dropping from typical daily averages of 2–3 lakh to around 40,000–50,000. Metro station closures (including up to 16 stations surrounding Jantar Mantar during peak protest hours) forced commercial staff to walk long distances from ITO and India Gate.
• Political Reactions: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal publicly questioned the early shutdown order on X, citing heavy security deployments and ambulance presence around the venue.
• Traders' Representation to Centre: The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), led by Brijesh Goyal, submitted a representation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting dedicated alternative protest grounds in Outer Delhi and capacity caps at Jantar Mantar to protect Central Delhi's commercial activities.

What remains unverified

• Total estimated financial losses across CP's 1,100 large shops, 500 small establishments, and 1,000 offices remain [unverified] pending formal post-event assessment.