Metro Rly link boosts footfalls at exhibition

Nampally expo witnesses 1.34 lakh visitors during weekend

• Ameerpet-LB Nagar Metro Rail, passing through Nampally, makes it easy to visit exhibition 
• Last Metro train leaves the Gandhi Bhavan station at 11:30 pm
• Sankranthi holidays also added to the surge in the footfalls
• 20% increase in visitors compared to last year in the same period

Hyderabad: This weekend the All India Industrial Exhibition witnessed maximum footfall of 1.34 lakh (Saturday 58,403 and Sunday 76,084). 

The authorities gave credit to the starting of Metro Rail services on the route LB Nagar to Ameerpet passing through Nampally, to the surge in numbers this year. The holidays of the Sankranthi also added to the rush at the exhibition.

According to officials, the exhibition which has entered its 79th year has witnessed an increase of 20 per cent in the footfalls, owing to the contribution of the Metro Rail services and holiday season in the second weekend. 

“In the second weekend, the exhibition has witnessed increase in number of visitors. On Saturday, more than 58,000 and on Sunday more than 76,000 footfalls were registered. 

“Due to the link-up with Hyderabad Metro Rail, there is an increase in visitors, which is around 20 per cent more when compared to last year during the same period. 

The Sankranthi festival holidays also added to the surge in numbers,” said GV Ranga Reddy, Secretary, Exhibition Society.

During the exhibition period, the last Metro train leaves the Gandhi Bhavan station at 11:30 pm. “This year, easy access has been provided to visitors coming from far flung areas. 

The visitors entering the exhibition after getting down from Gandhi Bhavan station was more than 4,000 on an average during weekends. Besides, some of the visitors also got down at other nearby stations like Nampally. 

Last year we witnessed 22 lakh footfalls and as now we are expecting 26 lakh visitors,” said Ranga Reddy.

 “Thanks to the Exhibition Society for linking up with Hyderabad Metro Rail making easier for people living in city outskirts to visit Exhibition in short tome avoiding traffic and parking hassles,” said Ravi, a resident of LB Nagar.