Speculations have been rife for some time that the biannual Auto Expo would be shifted out of New Delhi, especially in the wake of the chaotic Auto Expo 2012.
The organisers have now confirmed that the Expo will now move to Greater Noida from 2014 onwards, which incidentally coincides with the 25th anniversary of the event. For many years, the Auto Expo has been synonymous with Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. Over the past few years, though, there has been mounting criticism of the mismanagement and chaos at every event, and often it was suggested that the Expo be moved to a new venue.
In 2014, the Auto Expo will be held at the Greater Noida Exposition Mart. The event has also been moved to February from January, so that it does not clash with other international automotive shows. This will also allow some leeway to automotive publications that typically conduct their award ceremonies in January every year. The venue and month are not the only changes though – the name now changes to ‘Auto Expo – the Motor Show 2014′. In the 2014 edition, there will be a separate event for automobile manufacturers at the Greater Noida Exposition Mart, and the components’ exhibition might move to the Buddh International Circuit. Pragati Maidan offers a built-up area of 53,580 sq m, whereas the Greater Noida Exposition Mart currently has 27,648 sq m, with an additional 25,000 sq m to be ready by 2014 with space for additional hangars. The number of visitors to the Expo though has been on the decline – the 2010 edition attracted 1.8 million visitors, which crashed to just 700,000 in 2012, and experts fear that shifting the venue outside Delhi could cause a further dip in attendance figures.
