Visitors Face Network Issues at Numaish Exhibition
Visitors at Hyderabad’s iconic Numaish exhibition are facing significant challenges due to poor network connectivity. Despite assurances from the All India Industrial Exhibition Society about resolving the issue by installing telecom towers with multi-service providers, the problems persist. Many are unable to make calls or complete digital transactions, causing frustration and inconvenience for both shoppers and traders.
The annual Numaish event attracts massive crowds, with over 45,000 visitors on weekdays, nearly 85,000 on weekends, and even higher numbers during Sankranti holidays, sometimes exceeding one lakh. This year, the surge in visitors seems to have overwhelmed the network infrastructure, leaving attendees struggling to connect.
Exhibition officials claim to have set up multiple telecom towers to address the issue. However, they suggest that the sheer volume of visitors may be causing the network to lag. Stall owners and traders are particularly affected, as they rely on digital payments for transactions. Many traders are now asking for cash payments, but not all visitors carry enough cash, leading to lost sales and frustration.
Some traders, like Kavya, a stall owner selling Jaipuri products, shared that they have resorted to accompanying customers to nearby ATMs for cash withdrawals. However, even this solution is unreliable, as ATMs within the exhibition premises are frequently running out of cash. Many visitors are leaving empty-handed due to the inability to complete their purchases.
At a Kashmiri art stall, customers and traders struggled with failed digital transactions. Mariya Kulsum, a visitor, recounted her experience, saying, “I wanted to buy Kashmiri dresses, but I couldn’t pay digitally due to poor connectivity. I had to borrow cash from family members to make the purchase.”
Veteran visitors, aware of the recurring issue, have started carrying cash as a precaution. “This isn’t new. It happens every year during Numaish. That’s why we always bring cash,” said Kamble Shekhar, a regular visitor. However, first-time attendees and those relying on digital payments continue to face difficulties.
The lack of mobile connectivity also causes other problems, such as difficulties in locating friends and family within the crowded premises. “This issue needs to be solved urgently,” said Anil Neelam, a frustrated visitor.
While the exhibition continues to grow in popularity and scale, attendees are urging the organizers to prioritize resolving the persistent network and payment issues to ensure a smoother experience for everyone involved.
