Uncertainty still looms for traders on 351 roads
NEW DELHI: Vipul Arora has been running his chemist shop at Sarai Julena on CV Raman Road since 2009. Having witnessed the rapid expansion of the market that has a congested residential locality on its back, he fears the area would be bulldozed or sealed any day.
“It is the biggest fear we live with every day,” Arora said.
The status of 351 roads across the city, including the one on which Arora has been running his business, remains unclear.
A fresh cycle of sealing began in December last year in accordance with instructions from a Supreme Court-monitored committee, triggering protests.
These 351 roads have, however, not faced sealing yet. Businessmen here await a Union government notification that will deem these roads fit either for mixed land or commercial use.
As a result, the fate of tens of thousands running businesses here hangs in balance.
For years, a trader from Lajpat Nagar said he has been hop- ing to expand his business to northwest Delhi. Not only has he been unable to ascertain if commercial activity is allowed on the road he wants to set up his new shop, he said the stretch on Veer Savarkar Marg where his present shop is located also features on the list of 351 roads. “What if we are told in the future that we cannot conduct commercial activity here?” said the 50-year-old, who did not wish to be identified.
BLAME GAME
Many traders blame consecutive dispensations delaying the notification of these roads.
“Look at the stretch between Veer Savarkar Marg and Firoz Gandhi Road. Who knows all the shops on both sides will be sealed one day?” said Sham Sunder Sharma, a traders’ body leader.
The issue dates back to 2006, when the then Delhi government notified 2,183 roads for commercial or mixed land use. But, 351 roads did not make it on the list due to “certain deficiencies”.
The issue resurfaced during the ongoing sealing drive with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) at loggerheads over the issue. BJP, which rules the municipal corporations claimed the survey of 351 roads has been finished and sent to the Delhi government. AAP, which is in power in Delhi, alleges the survey was incomplete.
Notifying these roads for mixed land use, which requires the Supreme Court’s approval, will legalise commercial activities on these stretches and save them from sealing. The Union ministry of housing and urban affairs will issue the notification after the SC nod.
Several traders’ unions blamed the BJP government at the Centre for not finding a solution to the Delhi’s uncontrolled commercialisation.
“Rome was not built in a day. They (Centre) have seen this mess building up over the years under their nose. Why cannot the Centre bring a law and implement it for once? What’s stopping them from bringing in a law to streamline things?” asked Sanjeev Madan, president of the Traders Association of Lajpat Nagar, a body of over 700 shops.