Modi sets 3rd term vision, says growth will be much faster

New Delhi: Slamming people with negative thinking for their efforts to stall development projects in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that in his government's third term, India will be among the three economies in the world with a faster growth rate than now. The Prime Minister asserted that this is Modi's guarantee.

Speaking after inaugurating "Bharat Mandapam", the redeveloped India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) complex at the Pragati Maidan, the Prime Minister said that the redeveloped international exhibition-cum-convention centre (IECC) complex is a gift to the country as it celebrates 75 years of Independence.

Elected in 2014, the Modi government will complete its second term in office in May 2024 and he is seeking a third term on the development plank.

"We will make India a developed nation working on the principle of nation first, citizen first," he said, and pointed out that India's economy was in the tenth position when his government took office in 2014 and now it is ranked the fifth largest economy in the world.

"India will be one of the top three economies in the world in his third term, with a faster growth rate than now," the Prime Minister said.

Citing a Niti Aayog report that talked of 13.5-crore poor being lifted out of poverty, Mr Modi said, "We have to achieve the target of making India a developed nation in the next 25 years and India can definitely eradicate poverty."

Reeling out statistics of development from the number of airports to railway line electrification to the expansion of city gas during his nine-year tenure, the Prime Minister said India was the 10th largest economy when the BJP government took office in 2014.

Modi slammed people with negative thinking for trying to stall development projects, including the convention centre. He noted that just like accepting the grandeur of "Kartavya Path" privately, a "toli" (group) of negative thinkers will one day acknowledge Bharat Mandapam also.

The Prime Minister mentioned that the Bharat Mandapam, which will host the G20 summit in September under India's presidency, will promote conference tourism.

"The world will witness the rising stature of India when the newly built Bharat Mandapam hosts the G20 summit," Modi said.

Earlier in the morning, the Prime Minister performed "pooja" at the IECC complex ahead of its official inauguration in the evening. He also interacted with the workers who were involved in the construction of the complex and felicitated them.

The project, which revamped the old and outdated facilities at Pragati Maidan, was developed as a national project at a cost of about Rs 2,700 crore. With a campus area of approximately 123 acres, the IECC complex has been developed as India’s largest meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions destination. In terms of the covered space available for events, the IECC Complex finds its place among the top exhibition and convention complexes in the world.

The newly developed IECC complex at Pragati Maidan comprises multiple state-of-the-art facilities, including a convention centre, exhibition halls, amphitheatres, etc.

The convention centre is developed as the centrepiece of the Pragati Maidan complex. It is a grand architectural structure designed to host largescale international exhibitions, trade fairs, conventions, conferences, and other prestigious events.

The centre is equipped with multiple meeting rooms, lounges, auditoriums, amphitheaters and business centres, making it capable of hosting a wide range of events. Its multi-purpose hall and plenary hall have a combined capacity of seven thousand people, which is larger than the seating capacity of the famous Sydney Opera House in Australia. Its magnificent amphitheatre is equipped with a seating capacity of 3,000 individuals.

The architectural design of the convention centre building is inspired by Indian traditions and showcases India’s confidence and conviction in its past while also embracing modern facilities and ways of life.

The shape of the building is derived from the "shankh" (conch shell). The different walls and facades of the convention centre depict several elements of India's traditional art and culture, including "Surya shakti", highlighting India’s efforts in harnessing solar energy. Also, various paintings and tribal art forms from different regions of the country adorn the convention centre.