New Delhi: To reform the capital’s business landscape, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on 2 May proposed relocating heavily congested traditional Delhi markets such as Chandni Chowk and Sadar Bazar to newer, more spacious areas.
As per CM Gupta, this decision is aimed at strengthening trade infrastructure and offering much-needed relief to traders operating in cramped conditions.
Speaking at a traders’ gathering organised by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) at Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan, CM Gupta outlined the new BJP-led Delhi government’s plans to revitalise trade and industry in the city.
“Markets like Chandni Chowk and Sadar Bazar have become too congested for smooth business operations. Traders struggle to even breathe in those tiny spaces. Relocating such markets is essential for growth and relief,” she said
The Chief Minister also criticised the previous AAP government, claiming that Delhi had fallen behind in the last decade due to what she described as a lack of intent and vision.
“All they did was fight, shift blame, and promote minimal achievements with maximum publicity,” she remarked.
CM Gupta announced several initiatives in the pipeline, including the formation of a Traders Welfare Board to address business grievances and ensure dedicated support for the trading community.
The Delhi CM further revealed that her administration is seriously considering an amnesty scheme under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime for traders in Delhi.
As reported, in a recent meeting with GST officials, CM Gupta said she made it clear that bureaucratic harassment of traders would not be tolerated.
“No trader should be forced to wait outside government offices for hours. Officers have been warned that harassment will have consequences,” she said.
Emphasising that the goal is not to penalise but to simplify compliance, CM Gupta noted: “No trader wants to evade taxes. They just want a straightforward way to pay them.”
She urged traders to participate in drafting a new industrial policy for Delhi, assuring them that the government is working on creating a single-window system and ensuring ease of doing business.
The Chief Minister concluded by underlining the synergy offered by the “triple engine government”, the BJP at the Centre, in Delhi and in the Municipal Corporation, as a decisive advantage in resolving long-standing trade and industrial challenges in the capital.
