Delhi's new protest site Ramlila Maidan has just 3 booking days left this year; cost tops Rs 1 lakh

With protest venues in Delhi being reshuffled, Ramlila Maidan may prove difficult for organisers to secure in the near term, as bookings are filled until late December and hiring the entire ground for a day requires an upfront payment of Rs 1.21 lakh, according to officials.

Officials said the 12-acre venue, which has a capacity of 50,000 people, has only December 29, 30 and 31 open for bookings. The combination of limited dates and steep charges could make it harder for organisations and resident groups to plan demonstrations following the removal of Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest sites.

Hiring the ground costs Rs 50,000 a day, in addition to a refundable security deposit of Rs 55,000. Including taxes, the initial payment for a single day comes to Rs 1.21 lakh, an official said.


The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has clarified that a smaller section can be used for protests without booking the entire ground. However, that space can accommodate only around 150 people.

Also Read: Delhi markets shut amid protests: Khan Market, Connaught Place, South Extension traders fear Rs 1.5 lakh loss per shop

Ramlila Maidan bookings cost over Rs 1 lakh a day

The Ramlila Maidan is booked through the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s horticulture department, which grants permission for its use. Applicants must obtain a no-objection certificate from Delhi Police before the civic body clears a booking.

Officials said the ground is also used for various programmes and festivities, with major festivals such as Dussehra and Diwali approaching in the coming weeks. The civic body would lose at least Rs 50,000 in daily booking revenue if it allowed the entire venue to be used for protests without charging a fee, an official said.

“If given up for protest without any fees, the civic body will stand to lose at least Rs 50,000 plus per day,” the official said.

For protesters, the upfront expense is a significant consideration. According to protesters, organising a demonstration at Ramlila Maidan involves costs that were not required at Jantar Mantar.

The other designated venues also carry booking charges. At CBD Ground, owned by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), a plot of around 3,000 square metres costs Rs 1,87,000 per day, including Rs 95,000 in security charges. The booking fee for Burari Ground is not listed on the DDA website because applications are processed offline, though the cost is expected to be comparable.

Delhi Police shifts protests from Jantar Mantar to three venues

Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar’s standing order dated October 11 de-notified Jantar Mantar as a protest venue and designated Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi as the new locations for demonstrations.

The police order stated that a detailed and revised standard operating procedure (SOP) for protests at the three venues would be issued separately.

The limited availability and booking costs at Ramlila Maidan could therefore affect how organisations plan demonstrations under the new arrangement. While the ground can hold up to 50,000 people, its smaller section available for gatherings has space for only about 150, civic officials said.

Traders warn of traffic congestion around Ramlila Maidan

The venue’s location in a busy commercial area has raised concerns among traders about the impact of large demonstrations on business and traffic. Three hospitals and municipal corporation headquarters are also located nearby, officials said.

Paramjeet Singh Pamma, president of the Sadar Bazar Bari Market Traders Association, said Sadar Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Azad Market, Khari Baoli and Fatehpuri are among Delhi’s major commercial centres, drawing thousands of traders, customers and goods carriers daily.

These markets, along with New Delhi Railway Station, are connected to routes around Ramlila Maidan, he said.

“Large demonstrations here could lead to congestion. It will also add pressure on routes leading to New Delhi Railway Station, Old Delhi Railway Station and major bus terminals in the vicinity,” Pamma said.

Officials said large events at the ground have historically placed pressure on surrounding roads. Police often convert the two-way Asaf Ali Road into a one-way stretch and divert traffic heading towards Deshbandhu Gupta Road onto Jawaharlal Nehru Marg.

Both routes are already congested and affected by encroachments, officials said. An official recalled that a BJP rally at Ramlila Maidan in 2014 caused a traffic gridlock extending to ITO, nearly 4 km away, despite it being a Sunday with relatively light traffic.

Transport operators fear disruption to goods movement

The transport sector has also expressed concern about the proposed protest arrangements.

Rajendra Kapoor, president of the All India Motor and Goods Transport Association, said restrictions on roads leading to Ramlila Maidan during demonstrations could disrupt truck and commercial vehicle movement, affect loading and unloading operations, and delay deliveries.

The concerns come as the new venues are expected to accommodate demonstrations previously held at Jantar Mantar, making access to surrounding commercial districts, railway stations and bus terminals an important consideration for organisers and local businesses.

Ramlila Maidan has a long history of political rallies

Ramlila Maidan has been a prominent venue for political gatherings for decades. According to the historical account provided, the ground was originally a pond that was filled and levelled by 1930 to allow Ramlila performances to be staged there. During British rule, it extended beyond Ajmeri Gate, with the area now occupied by Kamla Market once forming part of it.

In 1952, Syama Prasad Mookerjee launched a satyagraha at the ground demanding the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir into the Indian Union. Indira Gandhi addressed a rally there following India’s 1971 victory over Pakistan, while a public meeting was held on November 26, 1974, in honour of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.

On June 25, 1975, the day the Emergency was declared, Jayaprakash Narayan and Atal Bihari Vajpayee addressed a rally at the venue. In 2013, Arvind Kejriwal took oath as chief minister at Ramlila Maidan.