Waste, Booked Grounds and Lost Earnings: Delhi's New Protest Sites Face Hurdles
· India · Indian Express, Hindustan Times
Tall grass, bushes, and waste piles cover large stretches of the CBD Ground in Shahdara, which the Delhi Police designated as an alternative protest site following the denotification of Jantar Mantar. An official from the Shanghai Tunnelling Project Engineering Co stated that the ground was clean when handed over, attributing the current overgrowth to a lack of maintenance by the Delhi Development Authority. Organisers reported that three Ramlila events are underway at the venue, drawing nearly 5,000 daily visitors and keeping it booked until next month. Meanwhile, at Ramlila Maidan, contractors and workers report that alternative protests threaten local livelihoods and evoke memories of major past agitations. The DDA has not commented on the booking processes for the alternative sites.
Why it matters
Protesters, local businesses, and commuters in Delhi face severe logistical hurdles, traffic congestion, and livelihood disruptions as the city's newly designated protest sites remain unprepared or heavily booked.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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