NEW DELHI, INDIA: Walk into the Delhi's Nehru Place, Asia's biggest IT marketplace, the deteriorating civic amenities are palpable. India's busiest market that houses close to 1,500 businesses and employs more that 20,000 individuals is a shambles today.

Blame it on civic authorities or unauthorized hawkers, the market is soon becoming the national capital's shame. Despite the fact that this commercial landscape contributes nearly Rs. 1,000 crore annually to the Delhi Government's revenues, the area lies in utter neglect.

As a preferred destination for countrywide buyers of latest gadgets, gizmos or high-end servers, Nehru Place today attracts close to two lakh visitors a day. Pained traders, however, blame the local authorities for its pathetic condition.

The Nehru Place Improvement and Welfare Association (NIWA) that has been batting for radical reforms in the area has called for a token closure of the entire Nehru Place on February 1 under the Nehru Place Bachao campaign.

NIWA received support from other bodies such as the All Delhi Computer Traders Association (ADCTA), Progressive Channels Association of Information Technology (PCAIT) and Computer Media Dealers’Association (CMDA).

All these associations have been demanding adequate parking space, renovation of commercial buildings, security upgrade, hawker-free zone and proper sanitation and utility services in the area.

As the terror threat looms large, the Association in a proposal to the state government has sought 150 CCTV cameras while most of them have already been installed with a control room at the Kalkaji police station.

Speaking to CIOL, Anil K Sehgal, president, NIWA, said that they have submitted a memorandum to Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna, the Delhi Police Commissioner and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) vice chairman, but the situation remains unchanged.

“As part of the campaign, the traders in the area will observe a token bandh for two hours from 10 am to 12 noon on February 1,” he said.

More than 15,000 signatures have been collected so far. PK Tripathy, Chief Secretary of the Government of NCT of Delhi, wasn't available for comments.