Delhi is all set to become the cultural hub of the country, with 30 major events set to take place in the next 80 days. Renowned artists from India and abroad slated to perform include Travis Scott, Krishna Das, Zakir Khan, Papon, AP Dhillon, Armaan Malik, Jonita Gandhi, Radhika Das, and many other stars.
Announcing this on Thursday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said these events will be organised at a mammoth scale- something that has never happened before. Delhi is no longer just the national capital but is rapidly moving towards becoming India’s ‘Creative Capital,’ she said, adding that to make the metropolis an ‘Event-Friendly City’, the rentals of major stadiums and auditoriums have been effectively reduced, and these venues are being upgraded to international standards.
The Chief Minister said to facilitate the organisation of such events smoothly, a single-window system has been introduced for event permissions, logistics, and security processes to further promote Delhi’s live entertainment industry.
She also stated that the Delhi Government is committed to promoting cultural diversity and the spirit of national unity with the guiding motto of “Virasat Bhi – Vikas Bhi” (Heritage as well as Development).
She shared this information in a news conference and Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture Kapil Mishra also shared his views on the occasion.
Rekha Gupta said this initiative is being undertaken jointly by the Delhi Government, the Event and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA), and the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) to ensure that these events maintain high standards, run smoothly without any administrative or logistical difficulties, and provide complete enjoyment to the audience.
The Chief Minister stated that the “Concert Economy” is an important economic sector for states, which deserves serious attention.
She said there was a time when organisers hesitated to hold large concerts and events in Delhi due to lack of facilities and institutional support. Understanding this challenge, the Government has taken an important decision to reduce the tariff rates of all major stadiums under the Central and Delhi Governments — such as Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Indira Gandhi Stadium, National Stadium, Thyagaraj Stadium, and Chhatrasal Stadium — and upgrade their facilities to international standards.
She mentioned that India’s live entertainment industry is currently worth around Rs 150 billion, and Delhi’s share in it is expected to reach Rs 2,500to Rs 3,000 crore in thecoming years.
The Chief Minister urged the people of Delhi to get ready for the upcoming cultural events and positive transformations, as the city is now fully prepared to welcome guests from across the country and around the world.
She also announced that the Delhi Government will develop new world-class event venues equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, where lakhs of people can attend concerts and cultural programs together.
Mishra said a detailed and dedicated process has been followed behind this transformation. The Delhi Government held a roundtable meeting with over 40 key representatives from EEMA, FICCI, and the event industry, in which the Chief Minister herself participated actively and provided valuable suggestions.
He said that during the discussions, it became evident that one of the major reasons for the lack of large events in Delhi was the high rental rates of venues. The Central Government, within a month, decided to reduce the tariff rates of major stadiums in Delhi. As soon as this decision was implemented, Delhi began to re-emerge as the hub of grand and large-scale events.
