Excitement is running high in Vadodara ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit on Tuesday, after online registration for the event filled up within hours of opening and pushed more than 42,000 names onto a waiting list.
A first-of-its-kind ticketing setup
This marks the first time a government event featuring the Prime Minister has opened public entry through an online ticketing app. The Vadodara Municipal Corporation, or VMC, turned to the popular platform BookMyShow to handle registrations for ordinary citizens. Demand far outstripped the limited seats on offer, leaving thousands stuck on the waiting list even as the main allotment sold out almost instantly.
MSU pavilion to host NaMo for Viksit Bharat
The programme, titled NaMo for Viksit Bharat, will be held at the Maharaja Sayajirao University pavilion. Organisers expect the audience to include citizens, students, teachers, professionals, entrepreneurs, industry representatives and members of civil society, all gathering to discuss the government's vision of building a developed India by 2047. Thousands of young people are expected to be present at the venue to hear the Prime Minister speak.
Railway and infrastructure projects on the agenda
During the event, Modi is set to announce a series of development projects spanning the railways and several other departments. The announcements are expected to signal a push to strengthen roads, rail links and other infrastructure across Gujarat, with a particular focus on the Vadodara region. The government is framing the initiatives as a way to boost both connectivity and employment in the area.
A possible direct exchange with the youth
Given the large turnout of young attendees expected at the pavilion, Modi may also engage directly with the youth during his address. Their role in realising the developed-India goal and their stake in shaping the country's future could form a significant part of his remarks.
QR code scan will decide entry
Entry to the venue has been made entirely digital. Everyone who registered through BookMyShow has received a digital M-Ticket carrying a live QR code, and only those who get this code scanned at the gate will be allowed inside. Tuesday's event in Vadodara is therefore set to combine three things at once: the announcement of development projects, a possible dialogue with the youth, and a digital experiment in public participation. How well this new model of citizen involvement in government events works out will be closely watched going forward.
