Work on in full swing for gala event

With just three days left for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to begin, work at the Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) is going on at full pace. According to representatives of the Ministry of External Affairs and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci), 70% to 75% of the work is complete.

The four helipads were ready but the work at the entrance was yet to begin. At Hall 3, the main hall where the inauguration and seminars will be held, including the inaugural speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the work is still incomplete. “It will take time, but we have been told to complete work by Thursday (January 5) so that there can be a final check and rehearsal. The workers are working in shifts to complete the work.”

In Halls 1 and 2, where 200 exhibitors will put up stalls, basic structures are ready only at some places. For instance, the stalls of Incredible India, Gujarat and Maharashtra have some structures and pictures ready, unlike the 1,000 sq mt Karnataka stall, which is the biggest, where nothing is ready. The business lounge and media centre were also getting ready.

The total exhibition area is spread across two stalls of 3,000 sqmt which is twice as big as the last PBD event held in Gujarat. However, many exhibitors and delegates were seen discussing that Gujarat PBD was better as it was for six days and citizens were allowed entry, unlike in Bengaluru which is merely a B2B event where 3,500 delegates are expected to participate.

A Ficci member said official work orders were issued only in the end of December 2016, so there was less time on hand. However, the basic work at the stalls is done. Now, government departments to whom the stalls have been allotted, have to give final touches. 

A deadline of January 5 has been set to complete all works for a final round of security checks and visits by secretaries and ministers. It is also taking time because, this time, 14 states are participating against the 10 in 2014.