The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has restricted street vending after 6.30 pm in and around Connaught Place as part of an intensified drive against encroachments in the heart of the Capital. The civic body has directed vendors to adhere to prescribed timings and designated spaces, with enforcement teams stepping up inspections across prominent commercial stretches to prevent pavements, corridors and other public areas from being occupied beyond permitted limits.
Evening vending restricted
The restrictions cover Connaught Place and adjoining areas that witness heavy pedestrian and vehicular movement, particularly during evening hours. NDMC officials said the measure is intended to ensure that pedestrian spaces remain accessible and commercial areas are not obstructed by unauthorised vending. Vendors operating in the area will be required to wind up their activities by 6.30 pm, while teams have been instructed to act against those continuing beyond the stipulated time. The civic body is also focusing on vendors occupying spaces outside authorised vending zones or extending their stalls into pedestrian passages.
Encroachment drive stepped up
The move is part of a broader anti-encroachment campaign being undertaken by the NDMC across its jurisdiction. Enforcement teams are carrying out regular checks to identify unauthorised occupation of pavements, corridors and public spaces, with particular attention being paid to busy markets and high-footfall locations. Officials have stressed that the exercise is aimed at maintaining accessibility and orderly movement rather than disrupting authorised vending activities. Goods and structures found occupying public spaces in violation of rules may be removed during enforcement action.
Connaught Place under watch
Connaught Place, one of Delhi’s busiest commercial and entertainment districts, attracts large crowds throughout the day and evening, putting considerable pressure on its pedestrian corridors and public spaces. The NDMC has repeatedly undertaken drives against unauthorised vending and other encroachments in the area to keep walkways accessible. The latest restrictions place particular emphasis on evening operations, when footfall rises sharply around the Inner and Outer Circles and surrounding markets.
The civic body is expected to continue inspections in the coming days to ensure compliance with the 6.30 pm deadline and other vending regulations. The action also forms part of wider efforts to improve pedestrian movement and prevent unauthorised occupation of public spaces in central Delhi.