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Bharat Mandapam

Coordinates: 28°37′10″N 77°14′33″E / 28.61944°N 77.24250°E / 28.61944; 77.24250
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Bharat Mandapam
Bhārata Maṇḍapam
Map
General information
Architectural styleRetrofuturism
LocationNew Delhi, Delhi, India
Country India
Coordinates28°37′10″N 77°14′33″E / 28.61944°N 77.24250°E / 28.61944; 77.24250
Construction startedNovember 2017[1]
Inaugurated26 July 2023; 15 months ago (2023-07-26)
ClientIndia Trade Promotion Organisation
OwnerGovernment of India
Height12 metres
Design and construction
Architecture firmArcop Associates Pvt. Ltd.
Aedas (Singapore)
Main contractorNBCC
Shapoorji Pallonji & Co. Ltd.
Other information
Public transit access Logo of the Delhi Metro Supreme Court
Website
www.indiatradefair.com

Bharat Mandapam (English: /ˈbʱaːrət ˈmən̪ɖəpəm/) is an exhibition hall located within the confines of the sprawling Pragati Maidan complex in New Delhi, India. [2] It is the largest convention centres of India, the design and architecture draws the inspiration from 12th century's Anubhava Mantapa.[3][4] Inaugurated in 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it was built on the site of the Hall of Nations, razed in 2017.[5] Featuring a total built-up area of 390,000 sq. metres, comprising an iconic, world-class meeting hall that can accommodate 7,000 people in a single format, six modern exhibition halls with an exhibition area of 1.5 lakh sq. metres. The 2023 G20 New Delhi summit took place at this venue between 9-10 September 2023.[6]

History

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Hall of Nations

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The site of Bharat Mandapam was the Hall of Nations, comprising the sprawling Pragati Maidan project, was designed by architect Raj Rewal.[7] It was inaugurated on 3 November 1972 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, on the eve of the International Trade Fair called Asia 72.[8] The venue and the event were meant to celebrate 25 years of India's Independence.[9]

Pragati Maidan

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It is a huge complex of buildings, covering over 150 acres (0.61 km2) sprinkled with many lawns, overlooking the historic Purana Qila, which stands opposite gate number 1. The complex houses many pavilions like the Nehru Pavilion, the Defence Pavilion, the Indira Pavilion, and the Son of India Pavilion. It consists of various structures that are constructed in eclectic shapes and sizes. It also plays hosts to an auditorium where music shows and plays are held quite frequently. An internal shuttle service also plies within the confines of the vast complex. Pragati Maidan used to house a cinema called Shakuntalam, which attained popularity among college students for its comparatively cheap tickets. The complex houses 18 exhibition halls,[10] several buildings, eateries, performance spaces and compounds, including headquarters of the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), and hosts over 70 national and international exhibitions annually, with the largest being the India International Trade Fair which attracts over 10,000 exhibitors and over 30,00,000 visitors.[11][12]

Pragati Maidan is flanked by Mathura Road to its West and Bhairon Road on the South. To its east runs the main railway line to Central and Southern India. Pragati Maidan is situated in Central Delhi.[13] Pragati Maidan offers about 61,290 sq. metres of covered exhibition space in 16 halls, besides 10,000 sq. metres of open display area.[14] In 2006, ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, a Rs 1,260-crore redevelopment plan was initiated by the government.[11][15] Pragati Maidan may house a new convention centre that would be five to eight times bigger in capacity than Vigyan Bhavan.[16]

Bharat Mandapam project

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After the Modi government came to power in 2014, it sought to revamp the Pragati Maidan. The comprehensive revamp plan of the Pragati Maidan IECC project was conceptualised by the ITPO in December 2015. In 2016 the consortium of architecture firms, Arcop (Delhi) and Aedas (Singapore), led respectively by architect Sanjay Singh,[17] and Spanish architect Simón Núñez de Arenas Fraile ( Simon N.A.F.) [18] won the competition for the design of the Master Plan and architectural design of the Exhibition Halls and Convention Center.The IECC (Integrated Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre) implemented at a cost of more than Rs. 2600 Cr. has been built by NBCC. NBCC subcontracted the work to Shapoorji Pallonji Group.[19]

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved it in January 2017 for implementation in a mission mode. The plan to replace Hall of Nations with a new convention center was justified on the need of needing a new 'world class' exhibition-cum-convention centre for the G20 meetings that India was to host few years later.[20] Conservationists and architects from all over the world protested the plan to demolish the iconic Hall of Nation and instead asked the government to preserve the renowned heritage building. However, a few days later, notwithstanding intense protests and outrage, ITPO demolished the building.[21]

The complex was replaced by a new Bharat Mandapam, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2023. In September 2023, it hosted the G20 Leader's Summit. The project has a total built-up area of 390,000 sq. metres, comprising an iconic, world-class convention centre that can accommodate 7,000 people in a single format, six modern exhibition halls with an exhibition area of 1.5 lakh sq. metres and plenty of underground parking facilities and good infrastructure connectivity to encourage the use of public transportation, but also allow roads to decongest fast. Pragati Maidan is spread over 123 acres of prime land in the heart of India's capital, New Delhi. The revamped complex comprises the newly built double-storied exhibition Halls - 1, 2, 3, 4. 5 & 15 and a single-floor structure - Hall 6.

Pragati Maidan

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The Auto Expo, Asia's largest auto show,[22] was held biennially at Pragati Maidan

The Pragati Maidan complex is divided into two sections - the old hall complex which comprises Halls 7 -12A and the new hall complex which comprises Halls 1 to 6 and 14. Some of the events held in Pragati Maidan are the India International Trade Fair, AAHAR, World Book Fair and the Auto Expo.[23]

The two-week-long India International Trade Fair (IITF) begins here each year on 14 November. In 1999, during the fair, two new air-conditioned halls 12 and 13 on an area of 9,000 sq. m. were opened to public, when some 5,200 enterprises, over 70 companies from 14 countries set up shop.[24] The 2003 IITF saw 25 lakh visitors to Pragati Maidan.[25] Today, Northern Railways runs special trains to Pragati Maidan during the annual fair,[26] as does the Delhi Metro, which handled an average daily ridership of 50,000 commuters during the 2008 fair.[27]

At a corner of Pragati Maidan, on Mathura Road lies "Matka Peer" or the dargah shrine of Hazrat Sheikh Abubakr Tusi Qalandari, a mystic who came to Delhi from Iran, around the 1260s CE.[28] Further down on Bhairon road, lies the National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum and further down stands the National Science Centre. The Pragati Maidan Delhi Metro station which is the largest station on the section built over an area of 6,800 square metres, opened in November 2006, during the ongoing India International Trade Fair, and on the eight day, over 2 lakh passenger used the facility.[29][30]

Each year, the Income Tax Department opens over 150 counters for filing Income Tax returns.[31][32] It also hosted Wills Lifestyle Indian Fashion Week (WIFW) of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), in 2008 and 2009.,[33] apart from exhibitions of almost all major industries, from toys, leather, lifestyle products and services, exports to medical equipment and sports equipments, and even a job fair.[34]

Accessibility

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Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station is 3 km from Pragati Maidan. The best way to reach Pragati Maidan is by Delhi Metro. Get down at the Supreme Court metro station which is located at gate number 10.

During the exhibitions, entry of visitors is also allowed through Gate No 4 on Bhairon Road.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/ready-to-open-revamped-pragati-maidan-convention-centre-in-delhi-to-be-among-worlds-best/articleshow/102064043.cms
  2. ^ Maanvi (26 April 2017). "Losing A Heritage: A History of Pragati Maidan's 'Hall of Nations'". TheQuint. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  3. ^ https://societyinteriorsdesign.com/bharat-mandapam-at-pragati-maidan-new-delhi-an-iconic-masterpiece-redesigned-by-arcop-associates-and-aedas-singapore-redefines-the-countrys-architecture/
  4. ^ https://www.news18.com/explainers/bharat-mandapam-pragati-maidan-new-delhi-all-about-venue-of-g20-summit-8570114.html
  5. ^ Maanvi (26 April 2017). "Losing A Heritage: A History of Pragati Maidan's 'Hall of Nations'". TheQuint. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  6. ^ Livemint (7 September 2023). "G20 Summit 2023 Delhi LIVE update: PM Modi finalises agreements with Joe Biden". mint. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Raj Rewal - Hall of Nations". Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Developing modern fair culture". The Times Of India. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  9. ^ "The Hall of Nations: A lost heritage of Delhi". Hindustan Times. 25 April 2017. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  10. ^ "India Trade Promotion Organisation". Archived from the original on 21 October 2006. Retrieved 1 November 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ^ a b "All new Pragati Maidan by 2010". Financialexpress.com. 24 March 2006. Archived from the original on 10 November 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  12. ^ "Staid Pragati Maidan to turn up market". Indianexpress.com. 8 October 1998. Retrieved 18 June 2015.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "Archived copy". www.india-codes.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ "Aahar International Food & Hospitality Fair". Archived from the original on 4 December 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  15. ^ "Pragati Maidan to get new showcase". The Times of India. 30 August 2006. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  16. ^ "Pragati Maidan new convention centre". Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com. 7 September 2012. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  17. ^ "Delhi's Pragati Maidan gets a new look with 7,000-seater convention centre". Architectural Digest India. 28 June 2018. Archived from the original on 1 August 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  18. ^ Knowledge Session on Pragati Maidan at Public Infrastructure Pavilion at iDAC Expo 3.0, 30 July 2022, archived from the original on 1 August 2023, retrieved 1 August 2023
  19. ^ "NBCC gives order worth Rs 2150 crore to Shapoorji Pallonji". Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  20. ^ "The hostile architecture of Bimal Patel". caravanmagazine.in. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  21. ^ "The hostile architecture of Bimal Patel". caravanmagazine.in. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  22. ^ "Front Page : Asia's largest auto carnival begins in Delhi tomorrow". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 9 January 2008. Archived from the original on 12 January 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  23. ^ "Auto Expo 2010 musings". Livemint.com. 7 January 2010. Archived from the original on 29 March 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  24. ^ "Pragati Maidan madness begins tomorrow". Indian Express. 13 November 1999. Archived from the original on 23 September 2003.
  25. ^ "Trade fair ends on a busy note". The Times of India. 28 November 2003. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011.
  26. ^ "Northern Railway to run special trains to Pragati Maidan". Zee News. 14 November 2008. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013.
  27. ^ "DMRC gears up for International Trade Fair rush". The Times of India. 19 November 2009. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  28. ^ Nivedita Khandekar (1 December 2012). "The pitchers of serenity". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  29. ^ "'Over 2 lakh passengers used Pragati Maidan Metro'". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 20 November 2006. Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  30. ^ "Pragati Maidan will be the biggest Metro station". The Times of India. 2 October 2004. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  31. ^ "Huge rush at Pragati Maidan counters". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 31 October 2004. Archived from the original on 25 December 2004. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  32. ^ "SPECIAL COUNTER IN PRAGATI MAIDAN FOR FILING I.T. RETURN". PIB, Ministry of Finance. 27 July 2006. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  33. ^ "Pragati Maidan to get fashionable this year". CNN-IBN. 24 July 2007. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  34. ^ "Biggest ever job fair at Pragati Maidan". The Times of India. 21 August 2004. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
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