Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The new convention centre on Minto Hall premises will be equipped with all facilities required for VVIPs, including President and Prime Minister.
It will be the first such convention centre in the state capital. The convention centre, being built at a cost of Rs 116 crore, will have holding areas and rooms for VVIPs as well as space for their temporary offices and their security details.
It will have in-built facilities for handling VVIPs, which have to be created separately currently. The project is being implemented by the Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC).
Managing director of MPSTDC, Ilayaraja T told the Free Press that when the President or the Prime Minister attends an event, several such facilities are needed that are not required in other cases. The new convention centre will have all required infrastructure for catering to top dignitaries, he added.

The convention centre will look exactly like the Minto Hall (Kushabhau Thakre Convention Centre) from outside, though its architecture inside will be modern.
The same stone that was used for building Minto Hall will be used. According to the managing director, the centre will have a banquet hall with a capacity to seat 2000 persons, an auditorium with a 1500-plus capacity, rooms where the delegates would be able to stay, restaurants, including a roof-top one, exhibition halls, galleries and other facilities for holding big conventions, meetings and exhibitions.
There will be a facility for partitioning the auditorium for holding smaller events. At present, the auditorium of Minto Hall has a capacity of just 800. It has a restaurant but lacks accommodation for the delegates and does not have a banquet hall either. Food is served to the guests in the corridors.
“The work on the project is in full swing and it is expected to be completed by the end of the next year,” Ilayaraja adds.
Facilities proposed
Banquet hall to accommodate 2000 guests Auditorium with a 1500-plus capacity Rooms for delegates, restaurants, including a roof-top one Exhibition halls, galleries and other facilities for holding big conventions, meetings and exhibitions.