As the Union Budget draws closer, anxiety is growing among traders in Burrabazar, Kolkata’s centuries-old wholesale and retail hub, once known for its packed lanes and brisk bulk clothing trade.

Shop owners say the market, long considered the backbone of eastern India’s garment supply chain, is facing an unprecedented slowdown, not due to competition from nearby markets, but because shopping habits have shifted to mobile screens.

Traders point to e-commerce platforms that offer steep discounts, rapid deliveries and doorstep convenience, which they say traditional stores simply cannot match. As a result, footfall in Burrabazar has declined sharply, leaving many shops struggling to sustain daily operations.

Small and medium traders say rising input costs, high rents and shrinking margins have further compounded their troubles. Many claim they are being squeezed out by online marketplaces that benefit from scale, aggressive pricing strategies and promotional offers.

With Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman set to present the Union Budget on February 1, Burrabazar traders are appealing to the Centre for relief. Their demands include rationalisation of GST rates, targeted subsidies for small businesses, and stricter regulation of online marketplaces to ensure a level playing field.

Without policy intervention, traders warn that one of India’s oldest commercial districts could continue to lose relevance in the rapidly evolving retail landscape. For many in Burrabazar, the upcoming budget is seen as a critical moment that could determine whether traditional markets can survive alongside the digital economy.