The Ahmedabad Flower Show has welcomed more than 1.62 lakh visitors from  January 3 to 7. The initiative of Amdavad Municipal Corporation has garnered significant attention, both for its overwhelming success and for the growing debate surrounding its premium ticketing. While the event has been widely praised for attracting crowds, it has also faced criticism regarding the high cost of VIP tickets and the lack of exclusive benefits for premium slot holders.

Despite the high attendance, the introduction of the VIP culture has stirred debate. According to officials, the VIP slots, introduced for the first time after 10 years, were designed to provide a peaceful and crowd-free experience, particularly during the 8 am to 9 am and 10 pm to 11 pm time slots. 

These slots, marketed as a solution for those who wish to enjoy the show in quieter conditions, are significantly more expensive than regular tickets—5 to 7 times the cost of the normal tickets.

However, many visitors have raised concerns about the fairness of such pricing, especially when no additional exclusive benefits, such as VIP access to certain areas or special services, are offered to those holding premium tickets. 

Visitors have questioned why they should pay such a high price for a less crowded experience when the rest of the flower show remains accessible to regular ticket holders without any major differences in what is being offered.

The regular tickets, priced at ₹70 on weekdays and ₹100 on weekends, remain relatively affordable compared to the ₹500 premium tickets. Yet, for many, the real draw of the show lies in the morning and evening prime time slots, which offer cooler temperatures and a more tranquil experience.

Moreover, if you are a regular ticket holder, at 9.15 pm, you would be asked to move out, even if your ticket was paid at 8.55 pm, to make way for the ‘VIPs’.

As of January 7, the show saw a total of 162,087 visitors. The highest number of attendees was recorded on Sunday, January 5, with a staggering 70,033 people visiting the flower show. Among these, 2,027 premium tickets priced at ₹500 each were sold, with the highest number of premium slots being sold on Saturday, January 4, when 843 tickets were purchased for both the morning and evening prime time slots.

However, these prime slots are seen as a luxury, accessible only to those willing to pay the steep ticket prices. The 8 am to 9 am time slot, known for its fresh dew and peaceful atmosphere, is a popular choice for early risers, especially office-goers who want to visit before the working day begins. The 10 pm to 11 pm slot, which runs after regular ticket holders have left for the day, similarly offers a quieter experience but lacks any exclusive amenities for premium ticket holders.

Moreover, visitors who enter the show just around 8.45 pm—are often forced to leave by 9.20 pm, limiting the amount of time they can spend enjoying the show. 

At 9.15 pm an evacuation announcement is made which also adds to the chaos, as large groups of visitors exit the show at once, contributing to the congestion on nearby roads.

While the flower show continues to draw large crowds, the influx of visitors has also led to significant traffic congestion, particularly around the western end of the riverfront, where the flower show is located. 

Auto-rickshaw drivers waiting for passengers in the area further exacerbate the situation, causing delays for both show visitors and regular commuters.