After Jantar Mantar, Delhi’s new protest sites face access, infrastructure, visibility hurdles

After Jantar Mantar was denotified as a protest site, three alternative venues — Ramlila Maidan in central Delhi, CBD Ground in east Delhi and Burari Ground in north Delhi — have come into focus. But a visit to the sites reveals questions over their accessibility, infrastructure and availability, besides the distance protesters would have to travel to reach them.

Ramlila Maidan: Puddles, events and limited availability

Located around 3–4 km from Jantar Mantar, Ramlila Maidan is the closest of the three alternatives and has a long history of hosting political rallies and mass movements. However, its use for demonstrations could be constrained by the cost of booking the venue and a calendar crowded with other events.

During The Hindu’s visit, large conical tents, a giant wheel, amusement rides and food stalls occupied parts of the ground as Dussehra celebrations continued in the city. Walking across the 12-acre site was difficult in places, with puddles dotting the ground.

Its location amid densely populated neighbourhoods and busy roads, though strategic, poses a traffic management challenge. It is managed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, which charges a booking fee of around ₹50,000 a day, apart from a refundable security deposit. A no-objection certificate from the Delhi Traffic Police is also required to host events here. The venue can accommodate around 50,000 people.

Beyond Dussehra and Ramlila celebrations, the ground hosts rallies, marches and other events through the year. A portion is also used for MCD parking, further limiting the space available at any given time.

CBD Ground: Tall grass and muddy patches amid an urban hub

Located around 13km from Jantar Mantar, the Central Business District (CBD) Ground in Shahdara would shift demonstrations to east Delhi, away from the Capital’s central political and administrative district. Spread across approximately 12 acres, one section of the ground has a capacity of around 15,000 people.

During The Hindu’s visit, parts of the ground were occupied by Ramlila celebrations and a fair. In another part, grass as tall as six feet stretched across a large expanse, broken by muddy patches and scattered garbage, raising concerns about its readiness to host public gatherings.

The ground is surrounded by residential colonies, markets, luxury hotels and other commercial establishments. It is also used for community events and wedding functions through the year, potentially complicating its availability for demonstrations.

Burari Ground: A vast expanse behind barriers

Burari Ground, also known as Nirankari Ground, is the largest of the three proposed sites, spanning around 50 acres in north Delhi. Located approximately 23km from Jantar Mantar, along the Outer Ring Road, it is also the farthest from the traditional protest hub.

The expansive ground presents a patchwork of terrain. During The Hindu’s visit on Saturday (October 17, 2026), waterlogged stretches lay alongside green patches where grass had grown to around four feet. Tarred tracks cut through sections of the ground, while other routes remained unpaved.

According to the locals, the ground has served as an informal recreational space for residents, who used it to play cricket, football and other sports. Driving learners practised riding two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and cars, while cattle could be seen grazing across the open expanse.

But access was restricted during the visit. Wire fencing ran along the perimeter, while wide pits had been dug at entry points to prevent vehicles from entering. A large yellow board bearing the Delhi Development Authority’s name stood outside the ground.

Unlike a developed public venue, the ground has no shade, making temporary tents necessary for prolonged demonstrations. Depending on the section booked, the arrangements could add to the cost of holding a protest.

Its distance from central Delhi presents another challenge. Reaching the ground would require protesters travelling from across the Capital to make a longer journey, while demonstrations held there could be farther from the political institutions and public spaces where they seek to draw attention to their demands.

For this reason, during the 2020–21 farmers’ agitation, farmer unions rejected the government’s proposal to shift their demonstration to Burari, describing the site as an “open jail”.

The Delhi Police said revised standard operating procedures for the three venues, detailing how demonstrations would be organised under the new arrangement, would be issued.

Published – October 18, 2026 06:33 am IST