Huge turnout during weekend at trade fair

Delhiites turned out in droves to enjoy the ongoing annual trade fair at Pragati Maidan on Sunday. The estimated turnout was more than 1.15 lakh, reports Nivedita Khandekar.

Delhiites turned out in droves to enjoy the ongoing annual trade fair at Pragati Maidan on Sunday. The estimated turnout was more than 1.15 lakh.

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And if the organisers, India Trade Promotion Organisation, and the Delhi Traffic Police are to be believed, this time round, there was a marked difference.

“Despite the milling crowds, we observed there was a certain discipline. People queued up patiently at the entrances, went through security checks and there was no pushing and shoving,” said an official.

Outside, on the roads surrounding the premier venue, the roads were generally trouble-free on weekdays, except for a few instances of congestion in New Delhi and there on Bhairon Singh Marg. The weekend saw smooth traffic flow in and around Pragati Maidan.

“I was stuck in jam on Bhairon Singh Marg in the afternoon. But my friend did not encounter any congestion at the same place at about 4 pm,” said Moushami Das, who travels daily from Noida to Connaught Place.

As many as 11 CCTV cameras are monitoring vehicular movement on Bhairon Singh Marg and Mathura Road and 14 cranes are at the disposal of traffic policemen to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

The traffic police had put up vinyl signs instructing people/motorists about various things like park-and-ride, pre-paid auto rickshaw booths and other facilities.

“People were encouraged to use public transport. No buses were diverted on any routes. By taking the public transport in large numbers and also by adhering to and cooperating with us to maintain arrangements, people have shown that they are responsible,” said traffic chief SN Shrivastava.