Visakhapatnam: The Andhra Pradesh govt, which had hinted at developing Andhra Mandapam in Vizag on the lines of New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam last year, has identified a 20-acre sea-facing site perched atop a hill in Kapuluppada for the project.Bharat Mandapam is a premier international convention complex featuring a 7,000-seat multipurpose hall, expansive exhibition centres, and world-class MICE infrastructure designed to host global summits. It was during the Partnership Summit in 2025, held in Visakhapatnam, that the AP govt had proposed the idea of building a similar facility to cater to the city’s expanding business and tourism ecosystem.Months ahead of the 2026 summit, which is again scheduled to be held in Vizag, the AP govt has floated a request for proposal (RfP) for Andhra Mandapam, which is likely to have an international convention centre with a seating capacity of 5,000 and an exhibition hall spanning 1 lakh sq ft. The project will also house a four-star or higher category hotel with a minimum of 250 rooms.The project is set to be developed on a DBFOT basis, placing full responsibility for designing, financing, constructing, operating, and maintaining the facility on the selected concessionaire. Interestingly, the development includes a tight initial deadline linked to the Partnership Summit 2027.The RfP mandates that by Nov 1, 2027, a convention facility, with a seating capacity of at least 2,000 and an exhibition space of at least 20,000 sq ft, must be fully operational, along with parking, pre-function areas, dining, catering, and other essential supporting infrastructure.Beyond the core facilities of the convention centre, an exhibition area and a star hotel, the concessionaire will be permitted to build allied developments such as additional hotels, restaurants, food courts, retail outlets, and tourism-related spaces. The overall plan aims to create an integrated destination for business events, trade exhibitions, conferences, and entertainment activities.The proposal comes against the backdrop of the expanding business and tourism ecosystem of Vizag city. The city continues to host major events, including the CII Partnership Summit 2025, which drew around 3,000 delegates from 60 countries and generated over 613 investment proposals valued at more than ₹13 lakh crore.However, a noticeable gap remains in the large-scale convention infrastructure. While Vizag features several standalone venues, it lacks a dedicated, large-scale convention hub that combines exhibition spaces, hospitality, and allied amenities under one roof. The proposed project is designed to fill this void as a comprehensive meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) destination. Moreover, the location borders the fast-growing urban hub of Madhurawada, which already houses major IT companies, upcoming data centres, technology firms, and residential projects.The recent Niti Aayog report highlights the city as a primary growth driver, backed by its deep-water ports, industrial base, defence establishments, tech sector, and healthcare facilities. The broader Visakhapatnam Economic Region represents an estimated $52 billion economy, positioning the city as one of the largest emerging economic corridors on the east coast.By offering a unified venue for corporate summits, trade shows, and investment forums, the project is expected to complement these core sectors while bolstering the growing ‘bleisure’ (business-plus-leisure) tourism market.
Original Source: The Times of India
