Pragati Maidan New Delhi – A Functional Modern Complex and a Historic Architectural Symbol
The story of Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, Delhi is an interesting one. It weaves loss, rebirth, and transformation. New Delhi is a city with many historic layers and new landmarks.
Pragati Maidan fits into this context as a mark of the aspirations of post-independence India. The exhibition center underwent a striking formation in recent years. Its demolition and redevelopment has been the subject of debate and controversy ever since.
Still, the Pragati Maidan facility remains the largest International Exhibition and Conference Center (IECC) in India. This is in terms of both exhibition space and number of events held.
This article explores Pragati Maidan and its current contributions to the Country’s Capital. We also reflect on its rich history as a symbol of India’s quest for architectural modernity.
The Facilities and Features of Pragati Maidan New Delhi
The Layout and Structures
Pragati Maidan new delhi is a massive campus that consists of buildings, pavilions, and lawns spread across 125 acres. The structures have rectilinear, circular, and other assorted designs. The main architectural forms draw inspiration from the historic Lutyens City.
The development comprises of two primary sections – the old and the new hall complexes. Bharat Mandapam receives a lot of media attention since it’s the most striking building on the complex.
This impressive building forms an oval than spans more than 26,000 square meters. The salient features include a unique facade with a stepped up vista. Large cantilevers and glass curtain walls give the building a floating effect.
Bharat Mandapam boasts state-of-the art functionality on par with the latest convention centers. It is home to multipurpose halls and meeting rooms suited for international summit and conferences.
It also has indoor landscaped areas decorated with sculptures and artwork. Completing the building’s wonder is a massive lobby enclosed in glass. This lobby was designed as a “Window to Delhi” with its view of the surrounding areas.
Pragati Maidan also houses several compounds, including the headquarters of the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and the National Science Centre. ITPO is a trade promotion agency under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It owns and manages the complex.
A striking aspect of the Pragati Maidan complex is its landscaping features and green spaces. The design is urban and pedestrian-friendly. It features large paved plazas, manicured lawns, and water bodies. Open walkways interconnect these areas, which cover a significant portion of the complex’s square footage. Glass-covered canopies run from the entry gates to the buildings. These structures offer pedestrians shaded access to different facilities.
The scope of the Pragati Maidan complex rivals that of renowned developments such as Shanghai’s National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai and the Hannover Exhibition Center in Germany. It is a testament to New Delhi’s ability to host mega events, international conferences, and cultural extravaganzas on a grand scale. In fact,
Exhibitions Halls and Conference Centers
The most prominent facilities at the complex are its world-class exhibition halls and conference centers. The exhibition halls have several functional spaces and open display areas. The designers planned the halls on two levels with some impressive features. These include meeting rooms, cargo elevators, and operable partition walls.
These venues meet the needs of exhibition industries, product demos, and trade shows on a national and global level. You also have large open area for heavy outdoor exhibits. The facilities provide a powerful platform for companies and exhibitors to engage consumers. Thousands of enterprises set up shop every year to network, exchange ideas, and grow their business.
Conference centers such as the Plenary Hall in Bharat Mandapam has seating capacity of 7,000 people. To give you an idea of its stature, the iconic Opera house in Sydney, Australia houses about 5500 individuals.
Theatres and Auditoriums
Pragati Maidan is also known for its impressive open-air theatres and auditoriums. One notable venue is a massive amphitheater that can hold over 3,000 attendees. This facility regularly hosts captivating live performances, entertainment shows, and cultural events.
There’s also a movie theatre called Shakuntalam. It offers relatively cheap tickets and has grown into a popular attraction.
Services and Amenities
Pragati Maidan is home to numerous facilities that offer a wide range of important services. You have banking, insurance, and postal facilities. The complex has a Media Center and Library, where visitors can access important information.
Since the campus covers a huge area, there’s an internal shuttle service if you don’t fancy walking. There’s also plenty of parking space that you can access through signal free roads.
Pragati Maidan also has a star hotel, medical dispensary, and storage warehouse. Completing the list of amenities are several restaurants and snack joints.
Traffic Decongestion Features
Pragati Maidan has infrastructure that encourages use of public transport. The complex integrates metro station, local railway stations, and bus stops. Skywalks and footbridges connect these facilities.
The complex also has pedestrian subways and wide side walks that merge into the surrounding areas. Further, the intersections surrounding Pragati Maidan were developed into grade separated and signal free roads. This infrastructure ensures the smooth movement of traffic into Pragati Maidan’s underground parking.
Key Events Hosted at Pragati Maidan
The complex accommodates up to 90 local and international exhibitions every year. The exhibitions cover a wide range of industries including medical, transport, manufacturing, and retail.
The largest of these events is the India International Trade Fair held In November. This two-week long affair draws thousands of exhibitors and millions of visitors to the grounds. It highlights global industry and business.
The complex also holds several permanent exhibitions such as the Atomic Energy and Defense Pavilion and Nehru Pavilion. The Nehru Pavilion highlights the life and contributions of Jawahar Lal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister.
Pragati Maidan also hosts Auto Expo and the World Book Fair. Auto Expo is the largest auto show in Asia and is held every two years at the complex. The World Book Fair is a prominent event attended by book enthusiast from all over the globe.
Pragati Maidan also hosts a range of prestigious events. In 2023, it hosted the G20 Leader’s Summit. This historic event brought the facility into the global spotlight once again. Other notable events hosted on the grounds include Wills Lifestyle Indian Fashion Week.
A brief history of Pragati Maidan
pragati maidan new delhi means “progress ground” or “field of progress”. Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated the facility in 1972 on the eve of the Asia 72 Trade Fair. The event and the launch looked to commemorate 25 years of India’s Independence.
Renowned Architect Raj Rewal and structural engineer Mahendra Raj designed the overall layout of the Pragati Maidan. Rewal also designed the iconic Hall of Nations (HoN). Bharat Mandapam currently stands on this site.
The Hall of Nations and Hall of Industry were the most notable structures of the original Pragati Maidan. Altogether, the two buildings covered 12,000 square meters, with circulating paths connecting them. The innovate design and functional style is a major reason behind their fame.
The HoN’s architectural form was a symbolic display of India’s technological prowess and modern aspirations. At the time, it was the first and largest space-frame structure built from reinforced concrete. It was constructed with local technologies and labor.
The project had severe budget constrains. The construction was labour-intensive as there was no advanced construction equipment. The unique method of construction raised questions within the international architecture community.
Something like that had not been done before. In the face of doubt and critique, the project was a success and heralded a new age for the Indian construction industry. Pragati Maidan was admired globally.
The aesthetic of the building received particular praise for its play on geometry and alternating transparency and opacity. The design integrated the exterior and interior seamlessly into a climate-responsive structure.
The old complex was a platform for showcasing India’s industrial growth, hosting important trade fair, exhibitions, and events. It quickly became a symbol of India’s cultural heritage and a pride of New Delhi.
The Controversial Demolition and Redevelopment
Since coming into power, the Modi government wanted to renew and expand the Pragati Maidan. In 2015, THE ITPO proposed the redevelopment of Pragati Maidan complex into a world-class International Exhibition and Convention Center.
This controversial decision sparked widespread concern and public outrage. Commenters claimed that the old complex had historical and architectural significance. The need to preserve the old Pragati Maidan was the subject of heated debates.
Raj Rewal himself filed a plea in the Delhi High Court, arguing for the preservation of the Hall of Nations. However, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry justified the demolition. The project proposal stated that the old exhibition facilities and infrastructure was dated.
For instance, Hall 1 of the old complex was built in 1957 while halls 2 to 6 were built in 1972. According to the ITPO, the conditions of the facilities at the time made them unsuitable to host major international events.
The primary reason behind the redevelopment project was to boost Delhi’s economy. Making Pragati Maidan a globally competitive exhibitions and conventions destination would help achieve this goal.
The National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) would undertake this huge task. In April 2017, the iconic Hall of Nation was the first building the ITPO demolished. It was followed by the Hall of Industry, Nehru Pavilion, and several exhibition halls.
All this happened despite appeals and protests. At the time, there was an ongoing case in the Delhi High Court to determine its heritage status. Expectedly, there was public outrage in Indian and globally over this move.
Critics cited the failure of the government and ITPO to implement alternative solutions. These included renovation and integrating the HoN into the new landscape. NBCC went on with the reconstruction of Pragati Maidan, despite protests and appeals.
The revamp cost over Rs 2,600 crore and faced several delays. Nonetheless, it was completed in late 2022, marking a long and controversial project. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated Bharat Mandapam in July 2023, launching a modern New Delhi Icon.
Conclusion
pragati maidan new delhi is an impressive exhibition and conference center. It features excellent halls, conference rooms, and outdoor spaces. This vibrant public space continues to contribute to Delhi’s economy and urban landscape.
The original complex holds historical and architectural significance. Many people still view the loss of the Hall of Nations as a major setback.
Balancing economic development and modernity while preserving history and culture is never easy. Pragati Maidan provides important venues for valuable exhibitions and events. At the same time, it’s important to remember the symbol of India’s freedom and modernity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q1. What is Pragati Maidan Famous For?
Pragati Maidan is a world-class exhibition and conference destination. It hosts large national and international events such as the Indian International Trade Fair, World Book Fair, and Auto Expo. These events showcase global industries and businesses in a wide range of sectors.
Q2. Who owns Pragati Maidan?
The India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) owns and runs Pragati Maidan. ITPO is a trade promotion agency tied to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Q3. Why was the old Pragati Maidan Complex Demolished?
The government stated that there was a need for a more efficient and modern convention and exhibition center.
Q4. Which part of Delhi is Pragati Maidan?
It is located in Central Delhi District, Delhi. It overlooks the Purana Qila and is flanked by Bhairon Road and Mathura Road on either side.
Q5. Why was the Hall of Nations in Pragati Maidan Special?
It held historical, cultural, and architectural significance. This is one of the main arguments to preserve the old Pragati Maidan complex. It was also the primary reason for the protests against its demolition and redevelopment.
Q6. How do I get to Pragati Maidan?
You can access the complex through the Supreme Court station of Delhi Metro. You can find this station next to Gate 10. It is also about 3km from Connaught Place and the Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station.
