Anti-CJP protest in Delhi: What can ‘shutting down’ Jantar Mantar 2.0 cost the public? Inside the note “₹91 million” | Today’s news
CJP protest in Delhi: Metro stations were closed, liquor shops closed, more than 250 trains were cancelled, traffic alerts were issued, internet services were temporarily suspended and markets across the national capital, including Khan Market and Connaught Place, were also hit – all to thwart the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led protest against Chief Election Commissioner KuCEC (KuCmar Gyanesh).
Kumar was under fire after an Indian Express investigation cited irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll and flagged 14 objections raised by Kumar’s representatives over 10 months. These objections included a change in Form 6 and ECINET where the voter list is published.
Read also | Delhi CJP Protest LIVE: SC orders Center to restore internet and metro services
In protest against Kumar, the CJP and several political parties organized a protest at Jantar Mantar on 10 October, prompting the Center and the police to take precautionary steps to avoid a situation similar to that of 20 July (when the CJP’s protest against NEET turned violent).
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According to a Times of India report cited in the article, the estimated cost could reach around ₹90-91 crore for the weekend. That number combines estimated losses from market closures, liquor store closures and subway restrictions.
Estimates include around ₹58.5 crore from the one-day closure of liquor shops, roughly ₹31.8 crore from the one-day closure of Connaught Place and Sadar Bazar markets, and ₹0.52–1.30 crore from the Metro shutdown.
The article says that the costs are passed on to the public. Traders, laborers and commuters are among those affected by the loss of business and disrupted travel.
The reported estimate of closing Connaught Place and Sadar Bazar for one day is about ₹31.8 crore. Khan Market traders’ association president said the one-day closure could cost each shop ₹1-1.5 lakh, with perishable goods also contributing to the losses.
45 metro stations were closed for a period of time, trains were canceled, liquor stores were closed and internet services were temporarily suspended in designated areas. Markets were also affected, including Connaught Place and Khan Market.
But how much do these restrictions on subways, internet, railways and markets cost and who pays for them?
The cost of these curbs would be passed on to the public, the Times of India reported, while sharing a breakdown of the estimated losses incurred due to the October 10 restrictions, widely described by the opposition as a “shutdown”.
The lockdown of the national capital could reach around ₹91 crore for the weekend, TOI reported. It said that when the capital is locked down for one protest, traders, workers and commuters pay for the loss.
Distribution of money
The report claimed that the shutdown of the Delhi Metro may stand around ₹0.52 million crowns ₹1.30 crore, while the closure of Connaught Place and Sadar Bazar market for just one day may amount to approx. ₹31.8 million crowns.
Dry days (liquor stores closed for a day) can stand around ₹58.5 million crowns. It all roughly adds up ₹90 crore-91 crore loss for this weekend alone, a TOI report claimed.
Meanwhile, Khan Market Traders Association president Sanjiv Mehra told ANI that the one-day closure may cause losses of ₹ 1-1.5 lakh per shop”> ₹1-1.5 million per trade. “Perishable goods such as fruits and foodstuffs add to the losses,” he added.
Delhi pauses
Delhi Metro closed 45 stations from 9 pm on Friday to 6 pm on Saturday for security reasons, the advisory said.
Internet services were suspended within 4 kilometers of Jantar Mantar from 10:00 PM on October 9 to 10:00 PM on October 10. However, the Hindustan Times reported on Sunday that the internet suspension had been extended to at least eight locations across Delhi that had been designated as temporary jails for Saturday’s protest.
An October 9 order approved by Union Home Minister Govind Mohan suspended mobile internet within 500 meters of any location on Saturday from noon to 10 pm, the report added.
Liquor shops in Delhi were ordered to remain closed on October 9 and 10 as a precautionary measure.
Rail services were also disrupted, with several trains arriving or departing from New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations between 4:00 am and 2:00 pm on Saturday reportedly cancelled.
Hotels, lodges, guesthouses and dharamshalas were inspected as part of the preventive security exercise. Police are also issuing appeals from various mosques and temples, urging people to maintain peace.
No such restrictions were announced on October 11 as the CJP decided to continue its protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
