Get All Access for $5/mo

The Man Behind the Largest Convention Center in India Delhi-based Sanjay Singh who is the director of Arcop Associates has been the architect for the IECC complex. The Project was conceptualized in association with Aedas Singapore. Sanjay Singh got associated with the project in 2016.

By Punita Sabharwal

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

IECC Complex and Sanjay Singh

On July 26, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated INR 2700 crore International Exhibitioncum- Convention Centre (IECC) complex along with the redeveloped India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) complex, to host the G20 Leaders' Summit in September at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.

The IECC complex has been renamed Bharat Mandapam. PM Modi unveiled the name of the new complex through a drone in the presence of Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and other ministers.

During the inaugural ceremony, the PM said that the "world is accepting that India is the mother of democracy", and the world will witness the rising stature of India when the newly built Bharat Mandapam will host the G20 summit.

Modi also asserted that India will become the third-largest economy in the world with a faster growth rate than now. He then slammed people with negative thinking "for trying to stall" development projects in the country.

The redesigned IECC complex has a campus area of around 123 acres and was created as a national project for a cost of INR 2700 crore.

Delhi-based Sanjay Singh who is the director of Arcop Associates has been the architect for the project. The Project was conceptualized in association with Aedas Singapore. Sanjay Singh got associated with the project in 2016. Talking about the complexities of the project, he says, 'With this kind of a public project there are huge complexities with respect to, management of crowd and footfall. The biggest challenge was managing the footfalls. Not only do you have to ensure that it could be done seamlessly with respect to the periphery of the project premises, but also how do you sort of engage them within inside the complex and the public spaces, the movement spaces, all these were important issues. So this is what was the logistical side of it. If I talk about the conceptual side of it, we were sitting right next to Lutyens' Delhi. Sitting a stone's throw from India Gate, this is a project which was the most high-profile project, before the Parliament came in. And you had the aspirations of a modern India, which is sort of ready to go for convention facilities and hosting the G20 for the first time."

Talking about different interpretations of the space created, he says, "On the G20 pre-function wall, you'll sort of witness installation, which is a fusion of Madhubani art, which has been done in a three-dimensional way, infused with the marble inlay stonework of Agra and the brass works. So we just sort of brought that together and gave it a new meaning instead of just taking it and putting it on the walls."

Punita Sabharwal

Entrepreneur Staff

Managing Editor, Entrepreneur India

Business News

Homeowners in These 10 States Pay the Most in 'Hidden' Upkeep Costs

Hidden home costs pile on top of mortgage payments.

Business News

New Southwest Airlines Major Investor Wants to Force Out CEO, Slams Company's 'Stubborn Unwillingness to Evolve'

Elliot Investment Management announced a $1.9 billion stake in the Dallas-based Southwest Airlines on Monday and is urging shareholders to vote for new leadership.

Business News

Y Combinator Helped Launch Reddit, Airbnb and Dropbox. Here's What I Learned From Its Free Startup School.

The famed startup accelerator offers a free course on building a business — and answers five pressing questions for founders.

Business News

Elon Musk Threatens to Ban Employees from Using Apple Products, Says Will Lock Devices in 'Cages'

The Tesla founder sounded off on X following Apple's 2024 Worldwide Developer Conference on Monday.

Business News

Apple's AI Has a Catch — And It Could Help Boost Sales

Not every iPhone owner will get to use the new Apple Intelligence.

Science & Technology

Why We Shouldn't Fear AI in Education (and How to Use It Effectively)

Facing resistance to new technologies in the educational process is nothing new, and AI is no exception. Yet, this powerful tool is set to overcome these challenges and revolutionize education, preparing students and professionals for a future of unparalleled efficiency and personalized learning.