India's first agro-convention centre worth Rs 150 cr in the pipeline

Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari told the media that he is driving a Rs 150 crore project to develop the nation's first-ever agro-convention centre near Telangkhedi. Outstretched in a 12 acres area, it would launch on Panjabrao Krishi Vidyapeeth (PKV) land.

The minister was addressing the closing ceremony of the Agrovision expo, which began on December 24. Gadkari has been patronising the event for the past 13 years. There are additionally plans to procure four acres of public utility land in front of Radisson Blu Hotel on Wardha Road for Agrovision Trust. It will become a permanent place for conducting the annual exhibitions. The site will have a training centre and a marketplace for farmers to sell their produce directly. Yet, this is at a very initial phase, and the land has not been procured till now.

On the Telangkhedi project, he said it would be set up on the PKV land and the executing agency would be the state public works department. The whole project would need Rs 150 crore, which may not be readily available. He plans to draw different sources from both the Government and the state to get the funds. Gadkari said he plans to get the project sanctioned by the Union agriculture ministry as the detailed project report (DPR) is already prepared. The design has been made by architect Habib Khan.

There are proposals to have a permanent convention centre so that farmers from throughout the nation can visit the place. The land will be utilised to render a practical understanding of new farming methods.

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