Too Far, Too Risky: No Takers For Trade Hubs | Delhi News – The Times of India

New Delhi: The chemical market at the Integrated Freight Complex in Narela, north Delhi, presents a desolate picture with its empty shops and warehouses. After a substantial investment in land allotment and construction, traders from old Delhi’s chemical market did not relocate to the specialised hub, citing inadequate infrastructure and, more importantly, lack of security.
Of the 1,100 plots earmarked in three blocks at the chemical market, 720 were allotted to shopkeepers who were found eligible for relocation in a survey carried out in 2001 by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Despite investing Rs 14 lakh each on construction and an equal sum on purchasing shops on 30-year lease agreements, the traders are reluctant to begin operations there. “Although the construction of most shops-cum-warehouses is finished, there’s not even one establishment operating because of isolated roads and non-existent public transport,” said Sushil Goel, former president, Chemical Traders’ Association, Khari Baoli.
Because of limited police presence, thefts are frequent. The location is so isolated that visitors struggle to find anyone who can give them directions and accessing the market without private transport is virtually impossible, according to the traders. Due to the absence of electricity connections, the place turns dark and unsafe and the few labourers present depart by 5pm. These and inadequate water supply and sewerage have deterred traders from functioning from Narela. Those who bought the plots wonder why DDA rushed to allocate land there when it hadn’t got Delhi Jal Board’s approval for water and electricity connections.
DDA officials claimed that the main water supply line had been laid. “However, the peripheral water supply line is still at the approval stage with DJB,” said an official, adding that it would be resolved soon. The official also said the arterial roads were in “good condition” and were re-carpeted two years ago, assuring that the service lanes would be made once DJB water supply started.
Pradeep Gupta, current president of the Khari Baoli chemical traders’ body, said the chemical sellers had either switched to other commodities or rented warehouses in other parts of the city because of the uncertainty at Narela IFC. “Our shops in old Delhi are centrally located, while this market is on the city outskirts. It’s unreasonable to expect customers to travel such distances to place orders,” said Gupta. “We continue to operate our business through our established contacts, using the Khari Baoli shops as our central Delhi meeting point. Also, the allocated shops in Narela are too compact for our inventory. Moreover, there are no service lanes either, rendering basement godown facilities unusable.”
Around 24 years ago, the chemical traders of Khari Baoli were instructed by Delhi High Court to shift to the outskirts of the city. A big fire at a Lal Kuan chemical warehouse in 1999 had raised concerns about safety in the already crowded locality. DDA began allocating approximately 50 square metre plots to individual traders on lease from 2001 IFC Narela.
Masterplan for Delhi 2021 and subsequent development schemes emphasised relocating wholesale markets from old Delhi. In 2018, Delhi High Court directed the shifting of chemical markets and shops to Narela within six months. The order warned the non-compliance would lead to sealing of shops. A monitoring committee was set up to supervise the transition. “Many eligible shopkeepers hastened to obtain shop leases from DDA and finished constructing their shops within the year. Their money seems ill-spent because though DDA submitted applications to DJB for water and sewer connections a decade ago, these haven’t seen the light of day.
Initially, the traders relied on private water tankers to meet their requirements, but this proved unsustainable. “Besides, we can’t use the washrooms,” said Dinesh Anand, who has a shop in B block. “And thefts are regular. People who kept their stocks here found them stolen the very next day.” That is why, Suman Rachna, Anand’s wife, said that while IFC Narela was more spacious than old Delhi and accessibility could improve once Urban Extension Road II is opened, people are still hesitant because of no police stations, fire stations and other security measures.
A DDA official argued that security was a problem in the region. “DDA has taken up the matter with Delhi Police from time to time,” he claimed.
Paper market at IFC, Ghazipur
The situation is similar at the paper market at the Integrated Freight Complex in east Delhi’s Ghazipur. In 2000, DDA offered plots measuring from 50 sq m to 200 sq m to paper traders of Chawri Bazar in old Delhi, the price ranging from Rs 10,000 per sq m to Rs 19,000 per sq m. Yet again, poor security arrangements, and so recurring thefts, and unhygienic conditions with authorised colonies and the MCD landfill nearby discouraged people from running their business from there. Deepak Jain, who heads the Paper Merchants’ Association of Delhi, noted that property tax soared fourfold after the area’s category changed from G to D for tax assessment. “But public sanitation is pathetic here,” he said, “and no agency takes up the responsibility of cleaning the area regularly.”
According to Piyush Jain, who formerly headed the association, while 621 of 1,000 plots at Ghazipur IFC were allocated, the site remains underutilised. “For one, there has been a gradual decline in the paper business due to the shift towards digitalisation,” said Jain. “We have requested DDA for six years now to permit us to store allied items also such as cards and digital devices but haven’t received a nod yet.”