PM Modi will speak to citizens and inaugurate and dedicate, as well as lay the foundation stones for development projects exceeding ₹35,000 crore in value.
VADODARA — Public enthusiasm reached unprecedented levels ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Gujarat. In a historic move marking the first time a major political address utilized a popular private ticketing platform for crowd management, free passes for the event listed on BookMyShow were completely claimed within just 60 minutes of opening.
The digital surge left more than 42,000 citizens placed on a waiting list, prompting municipal officials and organizers to set up external digital screens across the city to accommodate those who missed out on inside seating.
A Digital First for Public Events
The event, titled “NaMo for Viksit Bharat,” took place at the Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) Pavilion Ground. To streamline crowd entry, manage security verification, and avoid chaos at venue gates, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) partnered with BookMyShow to manage admissions via live, scanning-enabled M-tickets issued directly to attendees’ mobile devices.
Municipal authorities noted that demand far outstripped venue capacity within minutes of going live online.
“The overwhelming response forced registration portals to close in under an hour,” stated Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi. “With over 42,000 people on the waitlist, special designated fan zones with large broadcast screens were arranged nearby so citizens could watch the Prime Minister live.”
Key Development Initiatives Unveiled
The Prime Minister’s address formed part of a major official tour to launch, dedicate, and lay the foundation stones for key infrastructure projects valued at over ₹35,000 crore across the region:
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Rail & Logistics Boost: Dedication of three core segments of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) spanning 326 kilometers, built at a cost exceeding ₹20,700 crore to connect industrial hubs straight to JNPT port in Mumbai.
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Regional Connectivity: Launching new passenger train services connecting Vadodara to Tanda Road, expanding transit links across remote and tribal belts in Alirajpur district.
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Urban Infrastructure & Energy: Laying foundation stones for the ₹9,700 crore Vadodara-Ratlam railway expansion, National Highway upgrades, and local civic projects including a 110 MW floating solar initiative at Kadana Dam.
The seamless digital ticketing experiment is expected to serve as a model for future large-scale civic and political gatherings aimed at avoiding dangerous bottlenecks and managing massive venue crowds efficiently.
