Modi visits Maritime Expo, IFR Village

Visakhapatnam: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the demonstrations at Maritime Exhibition and the IFR Village at AU Engineering College Ground here on Saturday.

The expo was restricted to the public and even media for nearly three hours, in view of the PM’s visit. He spent more than an hour going around the stalls and witnessing demonstrations at the IFR Village.

Firstly, he visited the thematic light and sound show depicting the roles of Indian Navy, both in war and peace time, and then went through the handicraft and handloom stalls at the IFR Village, according to sources.

He also visited the Maritime Exhibition, which is based on indigenisation and innovation concept, and which exhibited the self-reliance of the Indian Navy. The people showcasing their products said the PM was happy over the arrangements at the expo.

“Acchese banao or bechte jao (make your products properly and keep selling). Though he did not speak much with anyone, he was happy seeing our products,” said an ecstatic handloom stall owner from Uttar Pradesh, Radhey Shyam.  

An artist, Satish Mahanti, presented an egg sculpture to the prime minister featuring the latter’s image.

A large number of people gathered at the AU Engineering College Road to catch a glimpse of the PM. The police found it tough to manage the crowd.     

There was tight security around the venue and all the roads leading to it.as per the security protocol.

Many people were ready with their cameras and mobile phones to ensure a photo of the prime minister. The crowd shouted waving their hands at Mr Modi when he left the venue in a Range Rover.

Modi sips Araku coffee at IFR village

Prime Minister Narendra Modi sipped Araku coffee at a stall set up by the Girijan Cooperative Corpora-tion at the IFR Village.

Appreciating its taste, he also enquired about the projects taken up by the corporation.

He liked the rich aroma of the organic coffee grown by tribals in the Araku valley and wanted to know more about the coffee from Chief Minister N. Chan-drababu Naidu, who accompanied him to the stalls at Maritime Exhibition.

Minister for tribal welfare Ravela Kishore Babu handed over the cup of coffee to the PM. The coffee is grown by over 1 lakh tribal families. Soon as the news spread, many visitors also wanted to sip the Araku coffee.