Holiday Season Trade Threatened by Street Blockades and Police Barricades

The festive quarter, normally the lifeline for Delhi’s retailers, is now under siege. Traders from Khan Market and Lalapath Nagar market claim that the protests have effectively halted commerce on days when demonstrations are active, cutting sales by half. Many businesses had already invested in large inventory purchases to meet the expected surge, but the inability of consumers to navigate through barricades and security perimeters is leaving shelves untouched. Merchants warn that if the disruptions persist, the cumulative loss could exceed the current daily estimate, jeopardizing the financial health of small and medium enterprises that rely on this period for annual profitability.