NEW DELHI: Central Delhi went into lockdown Thursday evening, with mobile internet services being suspended in the 1.5 kilometre radius of Jantar Mantar and traders in Connaught Place shutting the market down at 6.30 pm.The usually bustling market in the heart of Delhi bore a deserted look at 7 pm with downed shutters and vacant parking lots. The Rajiv Chowk Metro station, alongside many others, was shut at 7.30 am, for the second day in a row.Crowds started thinning and traders packed up as Thursday wore on, following an advisory issued by a traders’ organisation asking shops, offices and restaurants to shut by 6.30 pm as a precaution over ongoing Cockroach Janta Party protests.The advisory, issued by NDTA president Atul Bhargava following directions conveyed by NDMC chairperson and vice-chairperson, urged traders to cooperate “to avoid any unpleasant situation and prevent loss of property or injury”. “There was a huge gathering in CP, with thousands of people coming to the area. Our advisory kept in mind the safety of our staff, customers and businesses,” Bhargava told TOI. An NDMC official, too, said the advisory was issued “only from a safety point of view to avoid any untoward incident”.On top of that, the blocking of mobile internet in Delhi’s commercial nerve centre crippled digital payment systems at its parking facilities and inconvenienced commuters who heavily depend on digital payment platforms while using cabs and autos.The internet disruption forced attendants at several parking lots to temporarily switch to cash-only payments. With payment machines not working, parking operators began asking motorists whether they were carrying cash before allowing them to enter, while those relying solely on UPI or cards were turned away. “We are discouraging vehicles from entering the parking lots until the network is restored,” an operator said.“These days almost everyone uses UPI. I hardly carry cash. I only had a Rs 500 note, and the parking staff said they may not have change. It became very inconvenient,” said Aman Vats, a resident of Saket who drove to CP.Another person said he had to leave his vehicle parked temporarily and walk around searching for an ATM to withdraw cash before he could pay the parking charges in CP’s Inner Circle.Commuters also reported long delays and difficulties in reaching hospitals, offices and other destinations.The mobile internet shutdown compounded the problem commuters faced with several metro stations in central Delhi area already closed. Dharmesh Singh, who was travelling to Lady Hardinge Hospital for a scheduled checkup, said, “I couldn’t even book a cab or a bike taxi from CP because the internet wasn’t working,” a commuter said.Cab aggregators also struggled as app-based services were affected. “We can somehow pick up passengers, but ending the ride is difficult because the app needs internet. Payments are another issue. Most people pay online, but with no internet neither they nor we can complete the transaction,” said a rider with a cab aggregator platform.Auto-rickshaw drivers said many commuters were forced to look for cash as UPI payments failed. “Passengers kept asking where they could find an ATM,” said a driver parked near CP.
