Bhubaneswar: To add to the city’s infrastructure, the state govt plans to construct a mega convention centre. To come up in Chandrasekharpur, the convention centre will have a seating capacity of 10,000 people, the highest of all existing ones.
The project, to be executed by Odisha Bridge Construction Corporation (OBCC) Ltd in public-private-partnership mode, was approved recently, and a request for proposal (RFP) was issued to select a transaction advisor, which will help in the execution of this mega project.
For the mega project, the authorities identified 18 acres at Chandrasekharpur, just adjacent to Rail Sadan, the headquarters of East Coast Railway. The site is located and has easy accessibility from Jaydev Vihar – Nandankanan Road, a major thoroughfare of the city.
“We issued the RFP for selecting a transaction advisor for the convention centre. The site was finalised where currently the OMFED Plant exists. The advisor will prepare the project report, following which the final tender will be floated,” said managing director (OBCC) Sameer Hota.
Hota said the project, to be implemented in PPP model, aimed at creating a world-class venue for conferences, events, and exhibitions that will boost the city’s status as a major hub for business and tourism.
“This is expected to contribute significantly to the economic and cultural growth of Bhubaneswar, while enhancing its reputation as a key destination for national and international conventions,” said the MD, adding the project will be completely funded by a private player.
As per the initial plans, the mega convention centre will have a plenary hall with a seating capacity of 4,000 people, one meeting hall with a seating capacity of 1,200 people, and another meeting hall with a seating capacity of 500 people.
The convention centre will also have at least four small conference rooms with a seating capacity of 100 people each, an indoor exhibition hall of 50,000 sq ft, and an outdoor exhibition space that could accommodate 30,000 people.
Other infrastructure facilities at the convention centre include adequate car parking facilities, an internal road network, a security room, air conditioning, and landscaping of the entire area. Sources said the existing OMFED plant will be demolished for the project.
“This is really a great plan. Bhubaneswar hosted mega events in the recent past, such as the G20 and the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. The city can host mega international events too, and such a centre is the need of the hour,” said Birendra Mohanty, Acharya Vihar resident.