Following the unexpected demolition drive that swept through the Sarojini Nagar market on May 18, surface-level business may appear back to normal—but the fear still lingers. As evening descends, the atmosphere turns tense. Tempos contracted by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) begin entering the market with a singular mission: to displace every encroachment they can find.
On May 22, another such anti-encroachment operation was launched. As the NDMC tempo, marked by its maroon insignia, rolled in under the solemn evening sun, it quickly made its intentions clear—lifting a hawker’s cart onto its back within moments of arrival. Panic ensued as hawkers scattered, trying desperately to salvage their wares before they too were hauled away.
For those who failed to escape in time, the consequences were immediate and severe. Parveen Singh, a hawker who regularly sets up his stall in the market every evening, now finds himself forced to either seek alternative employment or search for new places to sell. Typically, he would arrive around 4 PM, but due to recent crackdowns, he has started coming by 2:30 PM to make sales before NDMC’s unannounced raids.
Despite the precaution, Singh was caught off guard on May 22 when the NDMC vehicle arrived around 5:15 PM. He not only lost all the denim jeans he had brought to sell but now faces a hefty fine for encroachment.
“I barely earn enough. In a single day, I pay around Rs 4,000 as rent to market associations just to be able to sell here. Those who have proper ‘stalls’ are even worse off—they’re charged almost 20 times more than me,” said Singh.
Over the last two days, he was only able to sell about ten pairs of jeans.
The May 18 late-night demolition had already ignited outrage among both traders and shoppers. Nearly 200 unauthorised stalls and shops along the footpaths were dismantled that night. According to NDMC officials, the operation was aimed at clearing pedestrian walkways and reclaiming public space. Illegal extensions—awnings, sheds, and makeshift stalls—were cited as the main contributors to the congestion.
Civic officials have confirmed that the demolition efforts are ongoing.
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Sarojini Nagar: Popular, affordable—and persistently overcrowded
Sarojini Nagar remains one of Delhi’s most iconic street markets, renowned for its budget-friendly fashion. Particularly popular among students and middle-class families, the market thrives economically but suffers from chronic overcrowding and poor walkability. Its cramped layout has made it a frequent target of municipal clean-up drives.
However, the execution of the NDMC’s recent action has come under fire. According to a hawker stationed near the entry gate, it was the smaller vendors who bore the brunt of the crackdown.
“The NDMC never targets the bigger shops, even though many of them also encroach on pedestrian walkways. On May 18, the central shops were tipped off beforehand and spared, but the ones near the entrance and rear were hit,” he said, requesting anonymity.
Traders allege damage to legal shops
Traders claim the NDMC exceeded its mandate during the demolition drive, damaging even authorised structures. “We found hoardings and parts of some licensed shops broken when we arrived,” said Ashok Randhawa, president of the Sarojini Nagar Mini Traders Association.
Randhawa also alleged that many shopkeepers were blindsided by the operation, which he said was conducted without formal notice or documentation.
While NDMC officials maintain that prior warnings were given, vendors argue the drive was sudden and lacked clear communication. “Even lawful extensions were removed. There was no due process,” said another shopkeeper.
NDMC and Delhi Police defend demolition
On May 22, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South West District) confirmed the operation on social media platform X, posting: “Joint Encroachment Removal Drive in Sarojini Nagar Market!! PS Sarojini Nagar, in coordination with @tweetndmc, cleared unauthorised encroachments to ensure smooth pedestrian movement and public convenience.”
The post was accompanied by photographs of municipal and police personnel removing structures from the market.
The NDMC also issued a post stating, “Clearing the Clutter for a Better Tomorrow! NDMC’s Mega Encroachment Removal Drive… reclaiming space for citizens!”
Public opinion remains divided
Shoppers have responded with mixed reactions. Some support the crackdown, viewing it as necessary to restore order in one of the city’s busiest commercial zones. Others, however, have criticised the campaign as unjust and misdirected.
“This is selective action at best. The real encroachments around the Sarojini Nagar Metro station remain untouched because money changes hands daily,” alleged Shubh Tandon, a college student.
Muskan Tewatia, a third-year student from Kirori Mal College, remarked, “The decline of Sarojini has been looming since they started building those malls nearby. We knew they’d eventually displace the street vendors.”
Others backed the NDMC’s effort and urged similar clean-up operations in other market areas like Karol Bagh and Lajpat Nagar.
“Sarojini is one of the best shopping spots for the middle class. Hopefully, vendors can be better organised to ensure smoother shopping experiences,” said another shopper, who asked not to be named.
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Market association calls NDMC’s drive ‘performative’
An official from the Sarojini Market Shopkeepers Association dismissed the entire operation as “extremely performative.”
“The NDMC has still not managed to remove encroachments from public land. Despite court orders, squatters continue to occupy footpaths, roads, and walkable areas around the DMRC station. It’s all optics,” the official claimed.
At present, the market remains open—but apprehension persists. Traders continue their business under the shadow of uncertainty, wary of what action the civic body may take next.