Kolkata Book Fair Creates History with Record-Breaking Opening Weekend
The 49th International Kolkata Book Fair (IKBF) has achieved a remarkable milestone, establishing itself as the most attended edition in recent memory. According to officials from the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, the fair witnessed an extraordinary surge in visitors during its inaugural weekend, with approximately 10 lakh footfall recorded in the first three days alone. This impressive figure represents an all-time high for the opening phase of the prestigious literary event.
Unprecedented Crowds and Traffic Management Challenges
Sunday proved to be particularly bustling, as close to four lakh visitors flocked to the fairgrounds, contributing to what organizers describe as the most crowded first weekend in recent times. Tridib Chatterjee, the general secretary of the guild, confirmed this historic achievement, stating, "This is an all-time highest footfall for the first three days of the book fair."
The massive influx of attendees presented significant logistical challenges for local authorities. The Bidhannagar traffic police worked tirelessly to manage both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, as thousands of motorists converged on the venue. With nine entry gates operating continuously from noon until around 7:30 PM, the fairground experienced continuous movement of visitors entering and exiting. The demand for car parking spaces reached unprecedented levels, adding to the complexity of traffic management.
Diverse Literary Offerings Attract Enthusiastic Readers
Book lovers from across Kolkata demonstrated their passion for literature by forming long queues at various stalls. Indian publishing houses showcasing popular and prestigious Bengali titles remained a major draw, while stalls featuring English fiction and non-fiction books also attracted substantial crowds. The little magazine pavilion, known for its dedicated section catering to avid readers, similarly witnessed a huge gathering of literary enthusiasts.
To navigate the expansive fairground, many visitors utilized layout maps available on-site. Sandip Ghosh, a resident of Baguiati, shared his experience, saying, "This has been very useful to locate the different zones of the fairground." This practical resource helped attendees efficiently explore the diverse offerings of the book fair.
Enhanced Accessibility and Visitor Convenience
The integration of metro services played a crucial role in facilitating access to the event. Many visitors took advantage of the Metro kiosk at the fairground to purchase tickets, avoiding the rush at Karunamoyee and Central Park stations. Monojit Mondal, a Howrah resident, highlighted the convenience of this arrangement, noting, "Earlier I took an extended route to come to the book fair from Howrah. Now I can directly come to the book fair from Howrah within 40 minutes, taking the Green Line metro from Howrah. This has been very convenient."
Sudhangshu Dey, president of the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, expressed immense satisfaction with the overwhelming response. He remarked, "The book fair has nine gates through which thousands of visitors are entering and leaving the fairground continuously. Many are standing in long queues to enter a book stall. We are very happy to see book lovers coming from all corners of the city." This enthusiastic participation underscores the enduring appeal of the International Kolkata Book Fair as a cornerstone of the city's cultural landscape.
