Red Fort blast: Chandni Chowk market has taken Rs 400-cr hit: MP Khandelwal

The bustling lanes of Chandni Chowk, one of the Delhi’s oldest and busiest markets, have worn a deserted look for the last two days following explosion near the Red Fort.

Traders said it was one of the rare occasions, market’s three-century history that such a sharp dip in visitors has been witnessed.

Chandni Chowk typically sees a daily footfall of around four lakh people and generates business worth Rs 450–Rs 500 crore every day.

BJP MP from Chandni Chowk, Praveen Khandelwal, said trade had taken a hit of around Rs 300 – Rs 400 crore since the incident.

“Retail footfall has certainly reduced because of restrictions on entry to Chandni Chowk from the Red Fort side,” Khandelwal said on Wednesday. “No means of transportation are open — the metro station is closed, buses are not running and private vehicles cannot enter. Because of this, customers are not coming to the market,” he said.

The MP added that while the retail segment has suffered due to the movement curbs, wholesale buyers continue to conduct business through phone calls and online orders. “The entire Chandni Chowk market is open, except for two markets that remain closed due to administrative inspections,” he said.

Despite the temporary slump, traders remain optimistic. “It’s the wedding season, and many people have already placed their orders. Once normalcy returns and traffic resumes, customers will be back. The spirit of Chandni Chowk’s traders remains high,” Khandelwal said.