20-acre sea-facing site identified for Andhra Mandapam in Visakhapatnam
The Andhra Pradesh Government has identified a 20-acre, sea-facing hilltop site at Kapuluppada for the proposed Andhra Mandapam, an integrated convention and exhibition facility planned on the lines of Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
The State government has invited bids to develop the project under a design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) model. The facility will include an international convention centre with a seating capacity of 5,000, a one-lakh-square-foot exhibition hall and a hotel of four-star category or higher with at least 250 rooms.
The project assumes significance as Visakhapatnam emerges as a venue for major business, investment and international events. The proposal for a convention facility of international standards was first mooted during the CII Partnership Summit held in the city in 2025.
The latest request for proposals (RFP) sets an early construction target ahead of the CII Partnership Summit 2027. It requires a convention facility with at least 2,000 seats and 20,000 square feet of exhibition space to be operational by November 1, 2027. This first phase will also include parking, pre-function areas, dining and catering facilities, and other supporting infrastructure.
The selected concessionaire will be responsible for designing, financing, constructing, operating, and maintaining the facility. The concession agreement will also permit the development of allied facilities such as additional hotels, restaurants, food courts, retail outlets and tourism-related spaces.
The proposed complex is intended to address a gap in Visakhapatnam’s event infrastructure. While the city has hotels and standalone venues for conferences, it lacks a large integrated facility that combines convention, exhibition and hospitality infrastructure.
The need for such capacity was highlighted by the CII Partnership Summit 2025. According to the State government, the summit attracted about 3,000 delegates from 60 countries and generated more than 613 investment proposals worth an estimated ₹13 lakh crore.
Located close to Madhurawada, the Kapuluppada site is part of a rapidly developing urban corridor with growing IT, technology, data centre and residential activity.
The Andhra Mandapam is expected to strengthen Visakhapatnam’s capacity to host large conferences, trade exhibitions and investment meetings, while supporting the city’s expanding business and tourism ecosystem.