Pragati Maidan
Encyclopedia
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, and with 72,000 sq. metres of exhibition space, it is presently Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
's largest exhibition centre. It is owned and managed by Indian Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), the premier trade promotion agency of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry administers two departments, the Department of Commerce and the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion. The head of the Ministry is a Minister of Cabinet rank...
, Govt. of India.
Built in 1982, over 150 acre (0.607029 km²) overlooking the historic Purana Qila, which stands opposite Gate no 1, Pragati Maidan is flanked by Mathura Road
Mathura Road, Delhi
Mathura Road is a road in Delhi, a part of the NH 2 Highway, and leading right up to the holy town of Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna....
and Bhairon Road on either sides. Pragati Maidan offers about 61,290 sq. metres of covered exhibition space in 16 halls, besides 10,000 sq. metres of open display area. The complex houses 18 exhibition halls, several buildings, eateries, performance spaces and compounds, including headquarters of the Indian Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), and hosts over 70 national and international exhibitions annually, with the largest being the India International Trade Fair
India International Trade Fair
ANSHUThe ', ever since its inception in 1980 has evolved as a major event for the Business community. It is a premier event organized by the India Trade Promotion Organization , the nodal trade promotion agency of the Government of India....
which attracts over 10,000 exhibitors and over 30,00,000 visitors. This complex houses five permanent exhibitions which include the Nehru Pavalion, Atomic Energy and Defense Pavilion. Some of the events held in Pragati Maidan are the India International Trade Fair
India International Trade Fair
ANSHUThe ', ever since its inception in 1980 has evolved as a major event for the Business community. It is a premier event organized by the India Trade Promotion Organization , the nodal trade promotion agency of the Government of India....
, World Book Fair and the Auto Expo
Auto Expo
The ' is a biennial trade fair of automobile and auto component manufacturers organized at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India.Organized jointly by the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association , Confederation of Indian Industry and Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers ; it is the Asia's...
.
In 2006, ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games
2010 Commonwealth Games
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
, a Rs 1,260-crore redevelopment plan was initiated by the government.
History
India International Trade Fair
ANSHUThe ', ever since its inception in 1980 has evolved as a major event for the Business community. It is a premier event organized by the India Trade Promotion Organization , the nodal trade promotion agency of the Government of India....
. It is a huge complex of buildings spread across acres of land sprinkled with many lawns. The complex houses many pavilions like the Nehru Pavilion, the Defense Pavilion, the Indira Pavilion, and the Son of India Pavilion. It has various building which are build in various shapes and sizes. It also has an auditorium where Rock shows and plays are held quite frequently. There is also an internal shuttle service for those who do not wish to walk. Pragati Maidan houses a movie theatre called Shakuntalam, it's quite popular among college kids for its comparatively cheap tickets.
The two-week long India International Trade Fair
India International Trade Fair
ANSHUThe ', ever since its inception in 1980 has evolved as a major event for the Business community. It is a premier event organized by the India Trade Promotion Organization , the nodal trade promotion agency of the Government of India....
(IITF) begins here each year on November 14. In 1999, during the fair, two new air-conditioned halls 12 and 13 on an area of 9,000 sq. mtr were opened to public, when some 5,200 enterprises, over 70 companies from 14 countries set up shop. The 2003 IITF saw 25 lakh visitors to Pragati Maidan. Today, Northern Railways runs special trains to Pragati Maidan during the annual fair, as does the Delhi Metro
Delhi Metro
Delhi Metro is a rapid transit system serving Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad in the National Capital Region of India. It is one of the largest metro networks in the world. The network consists of six lines with a total length of with 142 stations of which 35 are underground...
, which handled an average daily ridership of 50,000 commuters during the 2008 fair.
At a corner of Pragati Maidan, on Bhairon road, lies the National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum
National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum, New Delhi
The National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum commonly known as National Crafts Museum in New Delhi is one of the largest crafts museums in India.It is run by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India...
and further down stands the National Science Centre
National Science Centre, Delhi
The National Science Centre established in 1992, is a science museum in Delhi, India. It is part of the National Council of Science Museums , an autonomous body under India's Ministry of Culture...
. The Pragati Maidan Delhi Metro
Delhi Metro
Delhi Metro is a rapid transit system serving Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad in the National Capital Region of India. It is one of the largest metro networks in the world. The network consists of six lines with a total length of with 142 stations of which 35 are underground...
station which is the largest station on the section built over an area of 6,800 square metres, opened in November 2006, during the ongoing India International Trade Fair
India International Trade Fair
ANSHUThe ', ever since its inception in 1980 has evolved as a major event for the Business community. It is a premier event organized by the India Trade Promotion Organization , the nodal trade promotion agency of the Government of India....
, and on the eight day, over 2 lakh passenger used the facility.
Each year, the Income Tax Department opens over 150 counters for filing Income Tax returns. It also hosted Wills Lifestyle Indian Fashion Week (WIFW) of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), in 2008 and 2009., apart from exhibitions of almost all major industries, from toys, leather, lifestyle products and services, exports to medical equipment and sports equipments, and even a job fair.
Accessibility
- Nizamuddin Railway Station is 3 km from Pragati Maidan.
- The best way to reach Pragati Maidan is by Delhi MetroDelhi MetroDelhi Metro is a rapid transit system serving Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad in the National Capital Region of India. It is one of the largest metro networks in the world. The network consists of six lines with a total length of with 142 stations of which 35 are underground...
. Get down at the Pragati Maidan Metro station which is located at gate number 10.
See also
- India International Trade FairIndia International Trade FairANSHUThe ', ever since its inception in 1980 has evolved as a major event for the Business community. It is a premier event organized by the India Trade Promotion Organization , the nodal trade promotion agency of the Government of India....
- India TelecomIndia TelecomIndia Telecom is an annual trade show for the telecommunications industry in India. Held at the Pragati Maidan showgrounds in New Delhi in December, 2010 was the fifth edition of the exhibition.-Exhibition dates:*2009: 3–5 December...
- Areas And Zones of New Delhi
- ELCOMP INDIA
- Civil Aviation Week