While one million visitors may sound impressive, it barely matches other provincial book fairs in India so far this year, and is less than half the number the Kolkata International Book Fair pulled in.
With bitter irony, the first fully in-person return of the New Delhi World Book Fair saw sales hindered by, among other things, poor internet connectivity.
Despite the 1,000 exhibitors, attendance was below expectations, with student exams being blamed, while sales were hit as would-be buyers at the renovated Pragati Maidan convention centre tried to pay online for books but could not always complete the transactions.
While one million visitors may sound impressive, it barely matches other provincial book fairs in India so far this year, and is less than half the number the Kolkata International Book Fair pulled in.
More on this story as the full picture emerges.
UPDATE:
Conflicting reports on this story mean the World Book Fair may have in fact clocked 2 million visitors.
Updates on this as and when a confirmed number is obtained.
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