If you plan to visit the trade fair this year, using Delhi Metro will not only get you there faster, but also ensure a discounted entry to the venue. Starting Wednesday, each of the 62 metro stations in the city will sell tickets to the trade fair — an adult weekday ticket will cost Rs 20 in place of the normal Rs 30 price and a child weekday tickets Rs 10 in place of Rs 20.

The move is aimed at dissuading visitors from using private vehicles to reach the venue, thereby reducing congestion in the area and the load on parking. According to sources, the traffic police had suggested free metro rides for those holding trade fair tickets to promote use of public transport. This move is along lines of the recent Olympics in Beijing, where all ticketholders for the Olympics were entitled a free Metro ride to the venue. However, this could not be worked out so soon as it required special readers to be installed at metro stations to check tickets.

The Pragati Maidan metro station is expected to see a huge rush of visitors. “Special arrangements are being made to cater to the rush of commuters at the Pragati Maidan station, which include added ticket counters and customer help staff,” said a DMRC spokesperson.

The corporation will open 40 ticket counters during peak hours — 2 pm to 10 pm — on weekdays and 44 ticket counters from noon to 10 pm on weekends. Pre-vended tokens already loaded with value for popular destinations will be kept at counters to save time. In addition, two Customer Care Guidance Counters will also be started from where Smart Cards can be purchased.

The frequency of trains will be improved to 3.40 mins on Line 3 as eight extra trains will be run on Saturdays and 14 extra trains on Sundays. Additional security guards will also be deployed at the station for crowd control.

Source: Times of India