{"id":822992,"date":"2025-01-30T07:11:34","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T13:11:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/30\/delhi-elections-2025-what-trader-community-wants-from-the-new-govt\/"},"modified":"2025-01-30T07:11:34","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T13:11:34","slug":"delhi-elections-2025-what-trader-community-wants-from-the-new-govt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/30\/delhi-elections-2025-what-trader-community-wants-from-the-new-govt\/","title":{"rendered":"Delhi elections 2025: What trader community wants from the new govt"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Delhi’s trader community, comprising over 10% of the electorate, has long been a crucial force in shaping the city\u2019s economy. But frustration is mounting among business owners across the capital as they face rising challenges that threaten their livelihoods. From the absence of basic amenities to the rise of competition from e-commerce firms, traders feel increasingly neglected.<\/p>\n

\nOne such voice of frustration comes from the co-owners of Makhan Lal Tikka Ram, a century-old sweet shop in Old Delhi\u2019s Kashmiri Gate. Dishant and Kapil Aggarwal have seen their business decline\u2014not because of e-commerce or crumbling civic infrastructure\u2014but due to a persistent and unresolved problem: the menace of monkeys and the lack of basic public amenities.<\/p>\n

\n\u201cThe menace of monkeys puts off customers who can\u2019t eat outside or carry food with ease,\u201d said Kapil Aggarwal. \u201cThe only public toilet here is without a roof, even though it is right opposite the Municipal Corporation office.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nThe concerns expressed by the Aggarwals reflect a broader discontent among traders in the city. Traders feel that not only are they battling fierce competition from new-age businesses, but they also lack the necessary support from the authorities in terms of infrastructure development and policy changes.<\/p>\n

\nBrijesh Goyal, Chairman of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), stressed the need for a level playing field. \u201cE-commerce has captured our business and hurt the interests of local shops,\u201d Goyal said. \u201cThe Delhi Bazar portal should be made with market-wise and trade-wise registration of traders.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nTraders are also calling for better infrastructure in Delhi\u2019s commercial hubs. Many markets lack essential amenities like toilets, parking spaces, and proper roads. Vinay Narang, President of the Automotive Parts Merchant Association, voiced the common frustration: \u201cGovernments come and go, but there are no toilets here for women, no parking for vehicles.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nAdministrative bottlenecks have made it increasingly difficult for businesses to thrive. From burdensome clearances for simple renovations to multiple compliance hurdles, traders are seeking a more streamlined approach. Goyal further emphasised, \u201cWe want the new government to establish a trade and industry development board for monthly stakeholder consultations. We also want ease of doing business via single-window clearance for pollution, water, PWD, and other departments.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nAnother significant concern for traders is the rise of illegal hawkers who impact business operations. Atul Bhargava, President of the New Delhi Traders Association, suggested a practical solution: \u201cGovernment should make a flea market for peaceful rehabilitation of illegal hawkers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nHigh taxes have been a longstanding pain point for traders. With e-commerce businesses having fewer overheads, local shops are struggling to keep up. Harsh Arora, a chemist, stated, \u201cWe need parity with e-pharmacies as they don\u2019t need prescriptions to sell medicines, but we do. Physical shops have overhead costs too, where will we go if e-commerce eats up our business?\u201d<\/p>\n

\nAs the new government steps into power, the trader community is hopeful but wary. The demands of the community go beyond simple policy changes\u2014they require comprehensive action and collaboration between the Delhi government and the Centre. Without this, the once-thriving markets of Delhi may soon fade into obscurity.<\/p>\n

\nA level playing field with e-commerce, removal of illegal hawkers, ease of compliance, and the creation of a dedicated government board for traders are among the most pressing asks. However, these issues are not just political\u2014it will require a strong commitment from both the Delhi government and the Centre to fulfil these demands.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Read More<\/a>
\n Lloyd Kucera<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Delhi’s trader community, comprising over 10% of the electorate, has long been a crucial force in shaping the city\u2019s economy. But frustration is mounting among business owners across the capital as they face rising challenges that threaten their livelihoods. From the absence of basic amenities to the rise of competition from e-commerce firms, traders feel<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":822993,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37918,34530],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-822992","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-delhi","8":"category-elections"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/822992","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=822992"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/822992\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/822993"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=822992"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=822992"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=822992"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}