C'wealth Games to use Pragati Maidan

India Trade Promotion Organisation will lend half of its operational area for the Commonwealth Games to be held in October 2010.

India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), which has a sprawling space of 123 acres in the heart of the national capital, will lend half of its operational area for the Commonwealth Games to be held in October 2010.

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Although the Commonwealth Games Secretariat has booked five of the 19 exhibition halls at Pragati Maidan, "it would take at least 50 per cent of our operational space", ITPO Senior General Manager Safdar H Khan told PTI.

Khan said the Pragati Maidan space would be utilised for setting up a media centre for the international sports press coming for covering the mega event, venue for which would be adjacent to the ITPO on the banks of the river Yamuna.

However ITPO's regular fairs, including the flagship India International Trade Fair, will not be disturbed since the calendar of its events generally begins after October, Khan said.

The ITPO official ruled out shifting of its trade fairs from Pragati Maidan to either Greater Noida or a Delhi suburb near airport, stating "all over the world exhibitions are held in down towns".

For the coming IITF in November, ITPO has signed up with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which will not only carry the visitors to the venue, but would also sell the fair tickets at a Rs 5 concession each. Besides, Indian Railways has been requested to strengthen the local ring rail, which touches ITPO.