Make in India week: Hectic sessions of business, food and culture

The Make in India week saw various investment sessions begin in earnest on Sunday. Ministers, bureaucrats and senior industrialists thronged the massive MMRDA grounds in Mumbai, alternating between sessions hosted by countries, States and sectors.

Nearly 30 halls were constructed at the venue in the Bandra-Kurla Complex business district. However, chaos and confusion is inevitable at an event of such scale, and today’s event was no exception.

For instance, delegates were spotted running from one hall to another, trying to find the session they sought to attend. Not everyone could lay their hands on the two-page printout that listed the sessions along with the hall number.

Fire breaks out The cultural evening to celebrate the iconic Girgaum Chowpatty ended abruptly after a fire engulfed the stage. There were about 5,000 people at the venue. The reason for the fire is not immediately known. The fire started when a troupe of dancers at ‘Maharashtra Night’ were performing on stage. The police immediately halted the performance. The Bombay High Court had earlier denied permission for this event, but the Supreme Court later gave its nod.

Open-air cafeterias were a welcome break from investment speeches, with even expensive liquor on the menu for those wanting to stay in high spirits. Delegates at the high profile CNN session were served food from the Taj hotel chain.

One could see quite a lot of golf carts and redesigned vintage cars ferrying delegates from one hall to another, or to the exit. And of course, everywhere was a selfie opportunity, be it near the stalls or even the heavy machinery installations of JCB and BHEL.