Pragati Maidan opening today, traffic snarls likely

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday will inaugurate the redeveloped ITPO Complex in Pragati Maidan in an event which is likely to be attended by thousands of guests, including politicians and diplomats, according to officials aware of the matter. Traffic arrangements have been put in place ahead of likely congestion on arterial roads, Delhi Police officers said.

- Karn Pratap Singh

People aware of the matter said that the event is likely to begin with a hawan at around 10am, which would be attended by the Prime Minister and few other people. The PM is likely to interact with at least 51 workers part of the redevelopment project, they said.

This will be followed by a cultural event in the evening at around 6pm, where the Prime Minister is likely to be present, in which over a thousand people have been invited, the people said.

The ITPO complex is set to host the G20 Leaders' Summit in September, officials said.

As the evening function will take place during peak traffic hours, Delhi Police on Tuesday said that nearly 700 traffic police personnel will be deployed in and around the venue and all its adjoining roads in a radius of two kilometres from Wednesday afternoon onwards till the event is over. Officers said that traffic snarls are also likely in central Delhi roads such as Mathura Road, C-Hexagon, and Ring Road.