New Delhi, June 19 -- An anti-encroachment drive undertaken by authorities around a fortnight ago at Sarojini Nagar, by evicting street vendors and disallowing storage of goods outside shop boundaries, has left the market almost deserted when compared to its usual bustle, according to shopkeepers. The drive, undertaken by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on a request from the Sarojini Market Shopkeepers Association (SMSA), has reduced a regular weekday footfall of around 30,000-35,000 to a few thousands, according to shopkeepers and a spot check undertaken by HT on Tuesday. Shopkeepers said that while the move had cleared space and increased safety, it caused a significant reduction in footfall. "The customers that do still come tell us that they thought the market had been closed for the past few weeks. Additionally, since we have had to put all our wares inside, we are drawing fewer customers, since people walking by are not able to properly see what we are selling," said Abdul Wahib, 28, the owner of a cloth shop at Sarojini Nagar's Sabji Mandi lane. The market association, however, maintained that the drive has improved the condition of the market. Ashok Kalra, SMSA president, said, "This is better for the safety of people, and customers will now have free movement. Blockages have been cleared, and encroachment by vendors and shopkeepers has been cleared. Additionally, vendors with no licence were also removed."...