All in place, cops gear up for trade fair

NEW DELHI: Over one lakh visitors converge at the trade fair venue — Pragati Maidan — on an average per day.
The fair this year starts on Sunday, November 14, bang in the middle of post-Diwali revelry and pre-Id celebrations. In the midst of all this, it’s the traffic that can become the greatest casualty.
But, going by last year’s arrangements, Delhiites may be pleasantly surprised yet again.
Another foot overbridge has been constructed at the Bhagwan Dass road-Mathura Road junction, giving company to the one at the Purana Quila road-Mathura Road junction.
Railings have also been installed along the footpaths near the venue. This, to keep the pedestrians off the road and on the footpaths.
About 350 traffic cops will be posted around the venue and parking areas to ensure no snarls.
About 150 student traffic volunteers, private traffic marshals and home guards will be assisting the men in white and blue.
"To ensure that traffic doesn’t get stuck on the arterial roads like Mathura road, Bhairon road, Purana Quila road we have deployed 20 cranes. Any vehicle parked obstructively will be towed away and the owner fined. There will be no leniency. People should use the park and ride facility to get to the fair," said joint commissioner of police (traffic) Qamar Ahmed.
Tickets will not be available at counters along Mathura Road.
Visitors may buy tickets at Mother Dairy and Safal counters and at branches of Andhra Bank, Delhi Transport Corporation bus depots and park and ride sites.
Tickets are also available at gate number 1 and at the Delhi Transport Corporation terminal on Bhairon Road.
Auto stands have been created at gate number 2, 6, 7 and 8 of Pragati Maidan and radial roads of India Gate.
The park and ride facility is available from Jawaharlal Nehru stadium west gate, Velodrome Road near Indira Gandhi stadium and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) depot at I P Extension.
Limited parking is also available at the railway container depot on Bhairon Road, Purana Quila Road, inside National Stadium, opposite Appu Ghar, and India Gate radial roads.
Parking, however, will be a wallet pinching affair. During weekdays buses will be charged Rs 100, cars Rs 50 and two-wheelers Rs 20. On weekends the rates will be Rs 150, Rs 75 and Rs 40 respectively. Ticket prices too have been hiked this year. "The steep parking fee has been introduced to deter people from using private modes of transport," added Ahmed.