Hyderabad: Will Numaish venue be changed following local MLA Raja Singh’s demand?

Historian Mohd Shafiullah said the Numaish started way back in 1938 with just 50 kiosks and was totally local in nature at Bagh-e-Aam. It was shifted to present location in 1946 and today it boasts of over 2000 stalls and a pan-India status

Hyderabad: For almost 45 days starting the first day of every year, all roads in the city lead to Numaish. The bustling annual exhibition from January 1 to February 15 on the sprawling ground spread over 23 acres on Nizam Shahi Road, Nampally, draws huge crowds from far and near, with the road network around the venue ending up in gridlocks.

The local Goshamahal MLA, T Raja Singh recently sought to set the cat among the pigeon, when he cited traffic issues and called for shifting the venue for All India Industrial Exhibition from the city heart to the outskirts.

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This demand ended up evoking mixed reactions from different sections with most wanting the Numaish to continue at the same place due to his historic connection to the city, while calling for better traffic management around the venue.

Historian Mohd Shafiullah said the Numaish started way back in 1938 with just 50 kiosks and was totally local in nature at Bagh-e-Aam. It was shifted to present location in 1946 and today it boasts of over 2000 stalls and a pan-India status.

“I agree there are traffic issues and the authorities should ensure people face no inconvenience,” Shafiullah said. The first Numaish lasted for just 10 days and the next year it was organised for 15 days. As its popularity grew, it was extended for a whole month then, he added.

Another historian pointed out that the venue was well connected with different modes of transport and attempt to shift it somewhere else will rob the middle class families of an affordable outing opportunity.

A retired school principal, G Venkateshwar of old city said many people visit the Numaish to refresh their childhood memories and feel the nostalgia. “Families mark their annual event in the calendar. A majority of those visiting the Exhibition grounds now are probably third generation family members,” he said

According to estimates, the Numaish since it opened this year recorded a footfall of about seven lakh visitors in 20 days. Efforts to contact the the Exhibition Society for inputs proved futile.