Sharp dip in footfall during peak wedding season at big marketplaces in Delhi

Footfall has dropped sharply in some of Delhi’s busiest markets, including Lajpat Nagar and Karol Bagh, where security has been tightened following the November 10 explosion near the Red Fort. Traders say heightened public anxiety has dampened sales at the peak of the wedding season. Some wedding garment store owners, such as Rohit Sabarwal, claimed a 40% decline in footfall.

“During the start of the wedding season in November, we receive 15-20 shoppers daily. But the number has reduced to seven to eight over the past two days,” said Mr. Sabharwal.

At his bridal lehenga shop in the south-east Delhi market, Vikas Paul receives orders from all over Delhi this time of the year. However, few customers have dropped by his store this week. “Extra security measures are being taken in the area now. Many barricades have been put up. So the footfall has decreased,” he said.

Barricades were placed across surface-level parking spots in Lajpat Nagar on Tuesday. A day later, private parking attendants, supervised by policemen, could be seen checking vehicles entering the market.

“Since yesterday, there’s been an increase in patrolling. Policemen are monitoring all entry and exit points,” said Sonu Kumar, a caretaker at a garment shop.

‘People fearful’

Kuldeep Kumar, the Lajpat Nagar Market Traders’ Association president, said they had swiftly complied with the police orders to curb encroachment and increase vigilance. “For the first time in years, the main lane is clear of stalls and illegally parked vehicles. There’s discipline and alertness, but also fear among people, which will hopefully subside in a few days,” said Mr. Kumar.

At Karol Bagh, shopkeepers reported muted response from retail shoppers. Mukul Saha, a trader, expressed surprise at seeing policemen patrolling the central Delhi market early in the day. “We opened shops at the usual time in the morning. Policemen were patrolling the streets even then.”

He added, “For two days now, the footfall has been low. The strict vigilance is appreciable. However, such focus on security must be maintained throughout the year.”

‘Security still lax’

In sharp contrast, security arrangements did not appear as pronounced at Sarojini Nagar, one of the sites of the October 2005 serial blasts. Ashok Randhawa, the president of its traders’ association, said security measures at the market, which attracts nearly 60,000 visitors during weekdays and over a lakh at weekends, have still not been adequately beefed up. He reported a 30-40% drop in visitors since Monday.

“There are no guards at any of the six entry points, and half the metal detectors here don’t work. Markets like ours deserve better security arrangements, especially after the incident at Red Fort, because there is a sense of panic among both shopkeepers and shoppers,” said the terror-attack survivor.

Public announcements

Meanwhile, police teams were seen making rounds of crowded places, including railway stations and bus terminals, in the city, with officers making public announcements urging residents to stay vigilant and report suspicious objects or activity immediately.