Sadar Bazar: This favourite market is a bowl of chaos

Learning about the recent initiative of the Delhi government where the main road in the Chandni Chowk market has been turned into a pedestrian-only zone since last one month, Sadar Bazar shopkeepers feel that the initiative should be brought to their market as well to help decongest the ever-increasing crowd in one of the city's oldest market.

As one walks into the market, one can see encroachments by the shop owners thus leaving no space for the pedestrians to walk and vendors with all kinds of stalls in the remaining pathways thus causing even more chaos. Added to this are the numerous e-rickshaws and luggage carts which block the roads at most part of the day.

"Hope something is done to improve the situation here as sometimes it takes long just to get to the parking area. It might also pick-up business as a lot of people avoid coming to Sadar due to congestion," said HS Chhabra, President, Sadar Bazar Market Association.

The historic Sadar Bazar, located next to the main bus stand in the old city, draws scores of buyers because of the range of products on offer. The sheer numbers add to the chaos. Despite several measures over the past decades, the market continues to be chock-a-block through the day.

The civic body now plans to build three multi-level parking slots at Sadar Bazar to unclog the bustling market and areas in its vicinity. Of the nine floors, three will be under the ground and the rest will rise above the ground.

Encroachments Rampant

• The historic Sadar Bazar is the preferred market for thousands of buyers offering a wide range of products
• However, shops have encroached upon most pavements. This compels buyers to spill on to the road, creating huge traffic jams at all times