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India may well stand to lose its tag of hosting the second-largest auto show in the world, with organisers deciding to restrict the number of visitors to the event set to commence on January 5.
Rajive Kaul, chairman, steering committee, Auto Expo 2012, said, “Based on the feedback after last year's expo, we have decided to limit the number of visitors. On a given day, 100,000 people would be allowed inside the venue, Pragati Maidan, of which 70,000 will be general public. We want to make it more convenient for those visiting the show.”
The Auto Expo 2010 had 1.2 million footfalls. The organisers had then claimed it to be the second-largest visited auto show, globally after the Shanghai Motor Show. Into its 11th edition with the curbs in place, the Delhi Auto Show is unlikely to have more than 0.60 million visitors.
While 30,000 open tickets would be sold each day, visitors would also be able to make reservations online on bookmyshow.com. Tickets have been priced at Rs 150 for the general public and Rs 500 for business visitors, per entry.
“The demand was so strong that we were forced to ration the space available with us for exhibit”, informed Kaul. Due to the limitations at Pragati Maidan, the latest edition will be smaller than the previous one in 2010. The exhibition next year will be spread across 1,15,000 square metres. The 2010 edition of the expo had an exhibition area of 1,25,000 square metres. The auto components and original equipment manufacturers will have separate sections.
There would be 1,500 participants from 24 countries including the United States, China, Thailand, Japan and Turkey.
The new models will include 32 passenger cars, nine two-wheelers and six commercial vehicles.
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