GB Road

The Hidden Darkness of GB Road: Human Trafficking in New Delhi’s Largest Red-Light District

In her abstract painting, contemporary artist Jami Nix Rahn captures the haunting reality of GB Road, the largest red-light district in New Delhi, India. This infamous area, just a five-minute walk from the bustling New Delhi Railway Station, is home to an estimated 5,000 women trapped in prostitution, the vast majority of whom were trafficked there against their will.

The heart of GB Road pulses with contradiction. By day, it is lined with machine shops, glittering storefronts, and relentless commercial activity. By night, it reveals its sinister underbelly—over 80 brothels operate in multistory buildings above the storefronts, housing women and girls who have been coerced, deceived, or forced into sexual exploitation. Among them, brothel Number 64 stands out, known for housing Nepali women, who are often considered more desirable due to their fairer skin tone.

A Hub for Trafficking

The New Delhi Railway Station, one of India’s busiest transit points, sees approximately 500,000 travelers pass through each day. But for many, this station is more than just a transport hub—it is the entryway into a life of exploitation. Traffickers use the chaos of the station to transport women and girls, many of whom are lured from rural villages in Nepal, Bangladesh, and India with false promises of employment, marriage, or education. Once they arrive, they are swiftly handed over to brothel owners and subjected to unspeakable abuse.

The Scale of the Crisis

India is home to an estimated 8 million human trafficking victims, with the commercial sex trade making up a significant portion of this number. GB Road alone is responsible for a substantial part of this industry. According to a study by the Delhi Commission for Women, over 70% of the women in GB Road’s brothels were trafficked as minors. Many endure physical violence, debt bondage, and psychological coercion that keep them trapped in the system for years, if not for life.

Efforts to Fight Back

Despite the bleak reality, there is hope. Transit monitors stationed at New Delhi Railway Station work tirelessly to identify and intercept potential trafficking victims before they can be sold into sex slavery. Thanks to their vigilance, these monitors prevent an estimated 100 individuals per month from disappearing into GB Road’s brothels.

Local NGOs and law enforcement agencies have also intensified rescue operations, rehabilitation programs, and legal efforts to dismantle trafficking networks. Organizations such as Shakti Vahini and Rescue Foundation provide shelter, counseling, and vocational training to survivors, offering them a path toward healing and independence. However, the cycle of trafficking persists due to systemic corruption, economic desperation, and deeply entrenched gender inequalities.

A Call to Action

GB Road stands as a glaring testament to the hidden horrors of human trafficking in India. While interventions are making a difference, the fight against sex slavery requires global attention and action. Increased funding for anti-trafficking initiatives, stricter law enforcement, and widespread public awareness are crucial in breaking the cycle of exploitation.

As Jami Nix Rahn’s painting so powerfully illustrates, behind the blue hues and the bustling commerce of GB Road lies a darkness that cannot be ignored. It is a call for change—a reminder that no human should be reduced to a commodity and that freedom is a right that belongs to all.