Metro revives CP, brings foodies from everywhere to congested Walled City

Metro has boosted business at several places which were difficult to reach before

The Delhi Metro has not only made commuting easier for Delhiites but also revived the glory of Old Delhi, Connaught Place and other marketplaces which were on the verge of being forgotten because it was difficult to get to them.

There was a time when lack of Delhi Transport Corporation buses, ban on Blueline buses and the chock-a-block traffic kept Delhiites away from these markets. Instead they went shopping at the nearby malls.

“Malls opened in every part of Delhi and they were easily accessible. The roads near Connaught Place were always jam-packed. Only residents of the nearby areas preferred to come here for shopping. After paying so much of rent, we were facing losses due to less business,” says Naresh Sharma, an eatery owner near Palika Bazaar in Connaught Place.

“The much delayed renovation of the area had put the final nail in the coffin. But thanks to Delhi Metro, as soon as the Rajiv Chowk Metro Station became functional, people started gathering in the area, and the business was back on the track again,” he adds.
The traders were not happy during the Metro construction as it affected their business, but now they keep praising the Metro as it adds more crowds to the place.

In congested Old Delhi, business largely had depended on local people and small-time shopkeepers who come to buy in bulk. But the Chandni Chowk and the Chawri Bazar Metro stations have boosted business opportunities in the area.

“Our shop is famous for sarees but it’s in the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk. People used to come here for shopping especially during the lagan (marriage season). After the Metro station was opened, the demand for designer lehengas and suits increased. People from Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad and other distant areas started coming to this place,” says Subhash Sharma, a Chandni Chowk shop owner.

“Metro stations have not only increased our business opportunities but it has also created new jobs in the market. We had only two craftsmen at our shop, now there are four of them. As their demand increased in the market, their salaries also increased. Now we make ladies' suits, designer lehengas, sarees, ladies' kurtis and many other items,” he adds.

Residents of neighbouring cities are enjoying the cuisine of Old Delhi on weekends because of the  easy Metro ride. It has also decongested the roads as fewer people are coming to this place on their cars or bikes.

“Though the Metro helped in decongesting the area, there is a lot to be done. Foreigners come here for shopping, we must provide them adequate facilities,” he says.
Places like Chawri Bazar, which are a hub of printing presses, have diversified.

“Now we don't just print wedding cards. People from all over Delhi come here for different purposes, like for pamphlets, banners, posters, visiting cards and other printing material. The business is booming thanks to the Metro stations. Now, we have also started printing pictures on mugs, t-shirts and other things at cheaper rates than the rest of the city,” says Shivnarayan Goyal, a printing press owner at Chawri Bazar.