A small 0.5‑acre section of Ramlila Maidan remains free, holding no more than 150 people, a stark contrast to the 50,000‑person capacity of the main field. This limited free zone is the only area available without the Rs 55,000 refundable deposit that covers the rest of the ground.
Applications for the full field must be filed through the horticulture wing of the Municipal Corporation, accompanied by a police no‑objection certificate. The process, according to a municipal official told reporters, adds an extra layer of bureaucracy that protesters say has already delayed several planned rallies.
Commissioner Anurag Kumar’s October 11 order de‑notified Jantar Mantar as a protest venue and designated Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as the new sites. He promised a revised SOP for protests at the three venues, but the details remain pending.
The high booking fee is already affecting local commerce. A shopkeeper on Asaf Ali Road said that a future protest would shut the street for hours, forcing customers to wait for deliveries. He fears that the traffic gridlock, which has occurred before during major festivals, will again cripple the busy commercial corridor.
Ramlila Maidan has hosted some of India’s most iconic rallies—from Jawaharlal Nehru’s 1956 speeches to Indira Gandhi’s 1971 victory rally—and the new fee structure threatens to curtail that legacy. Opposition leaders are now demanding a free venue to preserve the democratic right to assemble.