Govt bars parking of commercial vehicles in Karol Bagh market

In its first major step against encroachment of public spaces, the Delhi Government has barred commercial vehicles, including e-rickshaws and e-carts, from parking or blocking roads in the Karol Bagh market area between 10 am and 8 pm.

In a notification issued this week, the Transport Department said the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, on being satisfied that “it is necessary in the interest of public safety, smooth flow of traffic and convenience of general public”, prohibits loading/unloading of goods and parking of all category of commercial vehicles, including e-rickshaws and e-carts, on the road of the Karol Bagh Market, Delhi, from 10 am to 8 pm”.

The Transport Department said the order would be enforced with visible signage and increased patrolling by traffic personnel.

The development comes weeks after the Delhi High Court pulled up the Public Works Department (PWD) for its inaction on a Delhi Police proposal to install boom barriers and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras in Karol Bagh to help decongest the area.

A Bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, while hearing pleas related to parking and traffic management, noted that the Delhi Police had submitted the proposal in August 2024 and sent a reminder in July 2025, but the PWD had not acted.

“It has taken months. Departments have been playing football with each other to decide where funds have to come from. It is absurd. We are here to advise the department? As to where they should get funds from to get boom barriers?” the Bench observed.

The court further noted that despite the letters of the Delhi Police, no adequate steps have been taken by the PWD.

In the same hearing, the High Court ordered the Delhi Police and the Transport Department to “strictly ensure” enforcement of restrictions on the entry, loading, unloading and parking of commercial vehicles in the Karol Bagh area between 10 am and 8 pm, as decided in a meeting on August 19.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was also directed to submit an affidavit stating whether anti-encroachment drives had been carried out in the last three months.

The order aligns with similar efforts seen in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, where the state government has taken an aggressive stance on clearing encroachments from public spaces. The Delhi Government’s move marks the beginning of stricter regulation in congested commercial areas of the Capital.