Ramlila Maidan is Delhi’s new protest site, but here a day costs a whopping Rs 1.21 lakh! Only 3 dates free in December
After Jantar Mantar was dropped as a protest site, Ramlila Maidan has just three open dates this year. Know the booking cost, rules & traffic worries
PTC Web Desk: Ramlila Maidan is now one of Delhi’s official places for protests, but getting the ground is not easy. Officials say only three dates are open for booking this year: December 29, 30 and 31.
The ground is about 12 acres and can hold nearly 50,000 persons. Booking it for one day needs an upfront payment of Rs 1.21 lakh.
Why is Ramlila Maidan in the news?
A day earlier, the Delhi Police removed Jantar Mantar from the list of protest sites. A standing order issued by Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar on October 11 named three new places for protests: Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground in north Delhi and CBD Ground in east Delhi.
The police said a new set of rules (SOP) for protests at these three places will be issued separately.
Also Read | Delhi Police de-notify Jantar Mantar as protest venue, three other sites designated for demonstrations
How much does it cost?
Here is how the Rs 1.21 lakh adds up:
Booking charge: Rs 50,000 per day
Security deposit: Rs 55,000 (refundable)
The rest is taxes
The ground is booked through the horticulture department of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The civic body gives permission only after the Delhi Police issue a no-objection certificate. A small part of the ground can be used for free. But it can hold only around 150 persons.
Protesters say the fees may be a burden for small groups and residents’ associations. At Jantar Mantar, no such payment was needed. An official, however, said that if the ground is given free for protests, the civic body would lose at least Rs 50,000 a day.
Civic officials has confirmed that the ground is already booked for several programmes and festivals. Dussehra and Diwali are also coming up in the next few weeks.
Traffic could be a big problem
Officials also pointed to traffic. Ramlila Maidan sits in a busy market area, close to three hospitals and the MCD headquarters.
Whenever big crowds gather, nearby roads feel the pressure. The police usually make Asaf Ali Road one-way and send traffic heading to Deshbandhu Gupta Road towards Jawaharlal Nehru Marg. Both roads are already crowded and have encroachments.
A look at the ground’s history
Until 1930, the place was a pond. It was filled and levelled so that Ramlila could be staged there. The tradition began in 1932 and is still going, which gave the ground its name.
In 1951, the area was developed to help refugees who had come from Pakistan earn a living. Over time, it became a major spot for political rallies.
Some key moments:
1952: Syama Prasad Mookerjee began a satyagraha here, demanding full integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India.
1956 and 1957: Jawaharlal Nehru addressed big public meetings.
1962: A permanent stage was built for an event honouring Queen Elizabeth II during her India visit.
1971: Indira Gandhi addressed a rally after India’s win over Pakistan.
1974: A public meeting was held on November 26 for Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.
1975: On June 25, the day the Emergency was declared, Jayaprakash Narayan and Atal Bihari Vajpayee spoke at a rally here.
2013, 2015 and 2020: Arvind Kejriwal took oath as Delhi Chief Minister at the ground.