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

Ramlila Maidan, designated as one of the three new protest sites in the capital, has no free dates for the next two and a half months. Only December 29, 30 and 31 are open for booking, according to officials.

The 12-acre ground, which can accommodate 50,000 people, can now be booked only for the three dates towards the end of the years, officials in the know said.

“The booking rate for the ground is ₹50,000 per day, plus a ₹55,000 security deposit that is refundable. The initial outlay including taxes comes to ₹1.21 lakh for a day’s booking,” an official said.

Anti-CEC protests LIVE updates

Civic officials clarified that a small portion of the ground is free for protests and gatherings, but it has a capacity of only 150 people.

The ground is booked through the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s horticulture department, which grants the permission. A no-objection certificate from Delhi Police is mandatory before the civic body clears an application.

Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar’s standing order of October 11 de-notified Jantar Mantar and designated Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi as the new venues for protests and demonstrations.

The Delhi Police, in its order, has stated that a detailed and revised SOP for protests at the three venues will be issued separately.

AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj posted on X about the availability of the ground.

“Govt. played another fraud with its citizens. The Ramleela Maidan is occupied with two Ramleelas,” he said.

“How can one hold a protest here? Do they want to create chaos?” he asked.

According to protesters, for an organisation or a group of residents planning a demonstration, Ramlila Maidan requires a steep entry cost. The Jantar Mantar site did not require a payment of this kind.

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

Civic officials also noted that the ground is booked for various programmes and festivities, as major festivals including Dussehra and Diwali are coming up in the next few weeks.

According to officials, the ground sits in a busy commercial area, with three hospitals and the headquarters of the municipal corporations nearby. In British times, it stretched beyond Ajmeri Gate, and present-day Kamla Market was once part of it.

Big events here have always strained the neighbourhood’s roads, officials said, adding that police usually turn the two-way Asaf Ali Road into a one-way stretch and divert traffic bound for Deshbandhu Gupta Road onto the parallel Jawaharlal Nehru Marg.

Both routes, already crowded and encroached upon, struggle to cope. In 2014, a BJP rally here caused a gridlock all the way to ITO (nearly 4 km away), even though it was a Sunday and traffic was light, an official recalled.

According to officials, the maidan’s story begins with water. Until 1930, it was a pond, which was filled and levelled so that Ramlila could be staged there.

The tradition began in 1932 and continues today, giving the ground its name. After Independence, in 1951, the area was developed to provide livelihoods to refugees who had arrived from Pakistan.

Over the decades, it became a stage for the nation’s politics. In 1952, Syama Prasad Mookerjee, regarded as an ideological inspiration for the BJP, launched his satyagraha demanding the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir into the Indian Union.

Jawaharlal Nehru addressed large public meetings at the maidan in 1956 and 1957 as the prime minister. A permanent stage was built in 1962 for a public event in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, who was visiting India.

Indira Gandhi addressed a rally here after the 1971 victory over Pakistan, and 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 ground.

In 2013, Arvind Kejriwal took oath as chief minister at the same venue.

Published – October 13, 2026 02:38 pm IST

For more than three decades, Jantar Mantar has served as the focal point of democratic dissent in the national capital. Despite its reputation as Delhi’s designated protest site, Jantar Mantar’s status has repeatedly been tested by security concerns, environmental regulations and court interventions.

On Monday (August 3, 2026), the Supreme Court of India directed the Centre to consider a plea seeking to discontinue Jantar Mantar as a designated site for protests and designate Ramlila Maidan instead as the principal protest venue for the national capital.

As per experts, Ramlila Maidan has always existed as an alternative protest site, but it is the proximity to the Parliament that drove the protesters to Jantar Mantar, just like its earlier counterpart, Boat Club did.

Why is Jantar Mantar important?

Located in the heart of New Delhi, Jantar Mantar lies close to Parliament and several central government offices. Its location allows protesters to demonstrate within sight of the country’s political establishment while remaining outside the high-security zones around Parliament. “Over the years, this proximity has made it the preferred venue for groups seeking to draw the government’s attention,” said Om Prakash Mishra, a former IPS Officer who served in various positions in Delhi Police.

How did it become the designated protest site?

Before the early 1990s, Delhi’s principal venue for demonstrations was the Boat Club lawns along Rajpath (now Kartavya Path). The site witnessed some of independent India’s largest political rallies. “As part of crowd control measures, it is important to have enough space for the movement of both protesters and policemen. In case of a police action, protesters should also have space to retreat. That kind of manoeuvring was possible at Boat Club,” Mr. Mishra said.

The turning point came in 1988, when a massive farmers’ rally led by farmers’ leader Mahendra Singh Tikait drew lakhs of protesters to the Boat Club, the success of which led to the formation of the Bharatiya Kisan Union. “The scale of the gathering raised concerns about security and disruption in the capital’s administrative centre,” Mr. Mishra said.

Following the massive farmers’ rally and the heightened security concerns during the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid movement, the Delhi administration discontinued large demonstrations at Boat Club. By 1993, the police had begun directing protests to Jantar Mantar—a move justified on grounds of traffic management and crowd control.

There was no statute or formal government notification at that time designating Jantar Mantar as Delhi’s official protest site. Instead, it acquired that status through consistent executive practice before being regulated through Delhi Police Standing Orders in the following decade.

In 2003, a Delhi Police Standing Order 309 mentioned Jantar Mantar and Ramlila Maidan as the protest sites where rallies and processions could take place, and marches could be held symbolically. “The numbers then decided the protest site: if less than 5,000, Jantar Mantar could be the protest site. If more than 5,000 but less than 50,000, protesters had to be guided to use Ramlila Maidan for their protests. If the footfall was to be greater than 50,000, the order stated Burari grounds and even bigger, protesters were guided towards Narela,” said Rajan Bhagat, formed Deputy Commissioner of Police.

All is not well: On the protests in Delhi

Mr. Bhagat added that over the years since 1993, Jantar Mantar became synonymous with peaceful public demonstrations. It saw the Anna Hazare movement against corruption in 2011-12, Nirbhaya protests in 2012, hosted protests by ex-servicemen demanding One Rank One Pension, farmers’ organisations, students, women’s rights groups, government employees, disability rights campaigners and several other civil society movements. “For many organisations, gathering at Jantar Mantar has become an established way of taking grievances directly to the nation’s policymakers,” Mr. Bhagat said.

Why was it contentious?

While its central location, less than three kilometres from the Parliament, has symbolically replaced the erstwhile marches to Parliament, which were banned in 1966 following agitations against Indira Gandhi’s anti-cow slaughter law, it has also been a source of contention for the residents close to Jantar Mantar. In 2017, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the protests to stop at Jantar Mantar after residents raised concerns over noise, traffic congestion and prolonged sit-ins. Authorities have also cited security challenges arising from demonstrations near key government institutions.

These competing interests have fuelled a long-running debate over how to balance citizens’ constitutional right to peaceful protest with the need to maintain public order and minimise inconvenience to local residents.

What have the courts said?

In October 2017, the National Green Tribunal directed that protests at Jantar Mantar be stopped, citing noise pollution and inconvenience to residents, and suggested that demonstrations be shifted elsewhere. The tribunal cited three grounds while issuing these directions — there is no executive order that demarcates Jantar Mantar as a ‘protest site’, that it’s marked as a ‘residential area’ in the Delhi Master Plan and finally, that the agitations caused noise pollution.

The order triggered widespread criticism from activists and civil society groups, who argued that it unduly restricted the right to protest.

In July 2018, the Supreme Court set aside the blanket prohibition, holding that public protests could not be completely banned at Jantar Mantar or the Boat Club. Instead, it directed authorities to frame guidelines that would balance the rights of protesters with those of residents. The Delhi Police then released its guidelines as per Standing Order 10 in 2018, demarcating Jantar Mantar as a protest site for up to 1,000 protesters. For a number higher than this, the permission is to be given for Ramlila Maidan only, the order said.

What is the position today?

Jantar Mantar continues to function as Delhi’s principal protest venue, though demonstrations are regulated through permissions issued by Delhi Police. Organisers must give an undertaking of compliance with guidelines related to crowd size, duration, use of loudspeakers and security arrangements.

“Having a suitable location is very important for crowd management. Ramlila Maidan is an ideal venue often used for political rallies and protests, as it has separate gates for VVIP movement and for participants. It is an enclosed space which establishes an overall security architecture,” Mr. Mishra said.

The 15-acre Ramlila Maidan, run by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, also continues to be available for protests, demonstrations and large events, but at a fee, for about ₹50,000 a day.

Published – August 04, 2026 03:39 pm IST

New Delhi:

More than 25,000 security personnel and over 15 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in Delhi for Thursday’s oath ceremony of the new chief minister at Ramlila Maidan, a police officer said.

The ceremony is likely to be attended by top party leaders, including chief ministers from BJP-governed states.

“We have deployed more than 25,000 police personnel and over 15 companies of paramilitary forces,” the officer said and added “robust” security arrangements were in place to maintain law and order.

“More than 5,000 police and paramilitary force personnel are deployed in and around Ramlila Maidan. Around 2,500 strategic points were identified where heavy deployment has already been made,” he added.

First-time MLA Rekha Gupta will be the new chief minister of Delhi, capping 11 days of suspense over who would get the top post following the BJP’s return to power after more than 26 years, ending the 10-year rule of the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP.

Ms Gupta (50) was chosen as Leader of the House in the Delhi Assembly at the BJP legislature party meeting late on Wednesday, senior BJP leader Ravishankar Prasad announced.

Ms Gupta later met Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and staked claim to form the government.

Only authorised people will be allowed near the venue and a proper traffic plan has been chalked out, the police said.

Along with other emergency response teams, multiple layers of barricades will be set up to ensure the dignitaries’ safety and security.

Around 50,000 people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Cabinet colleagues and chief ministers of National Democratic Alliance-governed states, among others, are expected to attend the ceremony.

The police said commandos, quick reaction teams, PCR vans, and SWAT teams had been deployed at strategic locations while snipers were positioned at high-rise buildings nearby.

Every nook and cranny are being monitored through AI-based facial recognition CCTV cameras, they added. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Key leaders of the INDIA bloc joined forces for a rally in the national capital today as a demonstration of their collective strength and solidarity following the recent arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. 

The event, dubbed “Loktantra Bachao” or ‘save democracy’, will witness the participation of prominent leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Farooq Abdullah, among others. But for Mr Kejriwal, currently in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam of 2022, it all goes back to where it began – Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan. 

Ramlila Maidan stands as more than just a venue for festivals and celebrations. This historic ground, nestled near Ajmeri Gate, has witnessed the ebb and flow of time, evolving from a site of Ramlila festivities dating back to the 19th century to serving as Ground Zero for political protests in the national capital. 

In 1955, during a momentous Soviet visit, Nikita Khrushchev graced its ground. In 1959, then-US President Dwight Eisenhower delivered a speech at the maidan.During the dark days of the Emergency, it was here that Jayaprakash Narayan rallied the masses, igniting the flames of dissent that eventually led to the restoration of democracy. 

As Mr Kejriwal faces legal trouble, it is here, at the Ramlila Maidan, where his political career began. 

From his days as an activist against corruption alongside Anna Hazare to his ascension as Delhi’s seventh Chief Minister, Mr Kejriwal’s career in public office was greatly influenced by his days protesting at Ramlila Maidan. 

In 2011, the Ramlila Maidan served as the base for Anna Hazare’s 12-day fasting protest in support of the Jan Lokpal bill. During this time, Mr Kejriwal stood by his side, gaining widespread recognition in Delhi. In 2013, Mr Kejriwal took oath at the Ramlila Maidan after becoming Delhi’s youngest Chief Minister. He would repeat that in 2015 and then again in 2020. 

Today as Opposition leaders gather at the historic ground, Sunita Kejriwal, the Delhi Chief Minister’s wife, will read out a message penned by her husband from ED custody. 

Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav are also expected to attend the rally.

The opposition is anticipated to voice vehement criticism against what it deems as the BJP’s exploitation of central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate, CBI, and the Income Tax Department.

The BJP insists that Mr Kejriwal’s arrest by the ED and the issuance of tax notifications to the Congress were outcomes of the agencies operating autonomously and adhering to legal protocols. Additionally, it criticised the AAP for persisting in its demand for the Delhi chief minister to govern from jail.

 

New Delhi:

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will hold a mega rally in Delhi today to protest against the arrest of its national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The ‘Loktantra Bachao’ (Save Democracy) rally will be held at Ramlila Maidan and is being seen as a show of strength and unity by the INDIA bloc ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Some of the senior leaders in attendance will be Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior party leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) supremo Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’Brien.

Mr Kejriwal is currently in the Enforcement Directorate custody in connection with a money-laundering case.

Here are the live updates on AAP’s mega rally in Delhi:

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“There Is Anger Among People Against Arvind Kejriwal’s Arrest”: Delhi Minister

Ahead of AAP’s mega rally today, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that there is anger among people against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest. 

“The people did not like that a chief minister has been jailed,” he told the news agency ANI. 

#WATCH | Delhi: On the INDIA bloc’s rally at Ramlila Maidan today, AAP Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj says, “We went to the streets of Delhi and we saw that there is anger among the people against Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest. The people did not like that a CM is jailed. At the Ramlila… pic.twitter.com/l9yTEQ7oQY

– ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2024

He also said that the AAP rally, which will be attended by the INDIA bloc members, will be a “huge challenge” for the BJP.

Delhi Police On Alert For AAP’s Rally At Ramlila Maidan

The Delhi Police is on alert and has made elaborate arrangements with checking at every gate and deployment of paramilitary personnel in and around the Ramlila Maidan for AAP-led INDIA bloc’s mega rally.

The Delhi Police has allowed the rally to take place with certain conditions, including no march, no tractor trollies, and no weapons in central Delhi.

#WATCH | Delhi: Preparations underway at Ramlila Maidan, for INDIA bloc’s ‘maharally’ to protest against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest. pic.twitter.com/AukApBQnsl

– ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2024

The administration has allowed 20,000 people to come for the rally, but police expects it to exceed 30,000.

The AAP claims the gathering may reach up to one lakh, which is the full capacity of Ramlila Maidan.

Seven gates have been prepared for entry and exit at the Ramlila Maidan, and every visitor will be checked with door frame metal detectors and hand-held machines at the entry gates.

AAP Rally In Delhi: Police Issue Traffic Advisory
According to the Delhi Police’s traffic advisory, movement will be regulated and may be restricted on the Ranjeet Singh Flyover from Barakhamba Road to Guru Nanak Chowk, Vivekanand Marg from Minto Road to roundabout Kamla Market, Hamdard Chowk, JLN Marg from Delhi Gate to Guru Nanak Chowk and Ajmeri Gate, roundabout Kamla Market to Guru Nanak Chowk and Chaman Lal Marg near VIP Gate, Guru Nanak Chowk to Turkman Gate from 9 am to 3 pm.

Traffic diversion may also be imposed on Rajghat Chowk, Minto Road, DDU Marg, Mirdard Chowk, Paharganj Chowk, A-Point, and Delhi Gate from 9 am onwards.

Traffic Advisory

In view of a political rally at Ramlila Maidan on March 31, 2024, traffic will be affected.

Kindly follow the traffic advisory. #DPTrafficAdvisorypic.twitter.com/UBozpP2wVA

– Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) March 30, 2024

People going towards ISBT, railway station or airport have been advised to plan their travel with sufficient time at hand.

Live Updates: Top INDIA Bloc Leaders To Attend AAP Rally

Several senior INDIA bloc leaders will attend the rally which is being held days after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money-laundering case.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and former party president Rahul Gandhi will attend the “loktantra bachao” rally. Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi may also participate in the rally.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav, Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar president Sharad Pawar, and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray will also attend the mega rally.

#WATCH | Delhi: INDIA alliance to hold rally against the arrest of Delhi CM and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, at Ramlila Maidan from 11 am today

(Visuals from the Ramlila Maidan) pic.twitter.com/D7MsbGaETy

– ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2024

Other prominent political leaders and members of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) like Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’Brien, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren of JMM, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI general secretary D Raja, and DMK’s Tiruchi Siva will also attend the rally.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, his cabinet ministers, and AAP MLAs will also participate in the rally.

Kalpana Soren, the wife of former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, who is currently in jail, will also attend the rally. Ms Soren on Saturday met Mr Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal at Delhi Chief Minister’s residence on 6 Flagstaff Road.

Live Updates: Mega AAP Rally At Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan Today

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will today hold a mega rally in Delhi to protest against the arrest of its national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. 

The ‘Loktantra Bachao’ (Save Democracy) rally will be held at Ramlila Maidan.