PM may take decision on DEPB continuation

The Delhi government has located land in Mehrauli to shift the International Trade Fair, which takes place every year in Pragati Maidan.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the search for different locales for the trade fair venue was still on, although the land in Mehrauli was adequate. "We have identified a plot to shift the trade fair venue," she said.

According to Dikshit, the state government has held three meetings with the central urban development ministry and the commerce ministry (which owns the land) so far, on shifting the trade fair venue to an alternative location.

"When Pragati Maidan was set up, it was considered outside the centre of the city. Car parking and traffic were manageable then. Now it is plain chaos," she said.

The plan is to convert the Pragati Maidan complex into an international conference facility and the shift the business-related fairs to Mehrauli or any other location.

"Delhi needs a conference facility of international standards, and the parking facilities inside Pragati Maidan and other infrastructure make the conversion feasible," she said.

Dikshit does not agree with the argument of the International Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) that the trade fair would suffer because of being shifted to a far-off area.

"Twenty years ago, even Pragati Maidan was far-flung. The city is growing and people would prefer to shop at leisure than when they are worried about crowds and parking," she added.

"Also, people from East Delhi and Noida come to Connaught Place via Pragati Maidan. One can see the chaos whenever any trade fair is on. The centre of the city is just not the place for fairs of this magnitude," Dikshit said.

"So far we have received a very positive response from both the Union ministries of commerce and urban development. So we have gone ahead with identifying land for relocating the trade fair venue," she added.