National Expo 2026 brings steel, power and heavy-industry buyers to Raipur's Science College Ground from 27-30 November, with free trade entry and 100+ exhibitors.
Dates
27–30 Nov 2026
City / country
Raipur, India
Venue
Science College Ground
Time
11:00 AM – 7:00 PM daily
Event overview
National Expo 2026 (Steel & Power) is the 16th edition of Indore Infoline's industrial sourcing show, held from 27 to 30 November 2026 at Science College Ground in Raipur, the steel capital of Chhattisgarh. Four days of plant, equipment and technology displays connect steel, sponge iron, power, cement and mining buyers with machine-tool, automation, electrical and renewable-energy suppliers.
Entry is free for business visitors from 11:00 to 19:00, and more than 100 exhibitors are expected. It is a practical, order-focused show for plant engineers, procurement teams, fabricators and channel partners working across central India.
TL;DR
See working machinery and compare suppliers in one open-ground venue, with steel-plant, power, sponge-iron and re-rolling equipment grouped for easy sourcing. The show is free, compact enough for two days, and puts you in front of technical teams from Raipur, Bhilai, Durg and Bilaspur, plus exhibitors from Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
Raipur is the steel capital of India and the surrounding cluster buys plants, consumables and automation every year. A four-day show with free trade entry and a focused local buyer base gives exhibitors a low-cost route to plant heads, MSME owners and distributors, with live-demo space for machinery that cannot travel easily to metro venues.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Location & Facilities
Science College Ground, Great Eastern Road, Raipur, Chhattisgarh 492010, India
Entrances & gates
Main Gate, Great Eastern Road
Primary visitor entrance and registration desk.
Food options
On-site food court
On-site diningParking: Use the Great Eastern Road approach and follow event parking marshals; the ground is an open-air venue with temporary halls and stalls, so confirm the gate number on arrival.
Gate: Enter through the main Science College Ground gate on Great Eastern Road; exhibitor and visitor gates are separated during build-up and show days.
Attend
Event days & opening times
Business visitor
Entry is free; online pre-registration is recommended to avoid queues.
Ticket info
Badge collection
Carry a business card and a government photo ID; collect the visitor badge at the main-gate registration desk.
Ticket notes
Free business entry with on-site or online pre-registration. The public is not the target audience; children under 18 are not encouraged.
What's on
How the last edition performed
Last edition
2025
Visitors: 10,000
Exhibitors: 100
Edition #: 15
This edition
2026
Visitors: 20,000
Exhibitors: 120
Next edition
2027
A 17th Raipur edition is expected in the organisers annual cycle but no dates or venue are published yet.
New this edition
Move to Science College Ground
The 16th edition moves from Shriram Business Park to the larger open-ground Science College venue.
SourceImpact
Raipur and the Bhilai-Durg belt form one of India's densest steel and sponge-iron clusters, so a four-day show here reaches plant buyers who seldom travel to metro expos. The move to Science College Ground adds open-air demo space for heavy machinery, while free entry keeps the visitor funnel broad. The main economic value is shorter sourcing cycles for local MSMEs and a low-cost market-entry route for outside suppliers.
Audience quality
The audience is narrow but commercially relevant: plant engineers, maintenance heads, procurement teams, MSME owners and dealers from Chhattisgarh and neighbouring states. Expect fewer international buyers and more owner-operators who can approve a purchase on the floor. Quality is highest on days one and two, when technical teams visit before weekend crowds; exhibitors should staff senior engineers then.
Exhibitor outcomes
ROI depends on demo-led selling rather than badge volume. A 9-18 sqm shell with working equipment, a local service promise and a financing partner is the strongest package. The 2025 edition reported 100+ exhibitors and a forecast 10,000 visitors, so a realistic target is 60-120 qualified conversations over four days, not thousands of scans. Follow up within 48 hours while plant teams are still comparing quotes.
Intelligence
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Why it matters
Chhattisgarh's steel and sponge-iron cluster around Raipur, Bhilai and Durg is a year-round buyer of plant equipment, spares and automation. A regional show cuts travel for plant teams and lets suppliers meet decision-makers who rarely attend metro expos, making it a cost-effective entry point to central India's heavy-industry supply chain.
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Decarbonisation of steelmaking
Indian mills are testing induction-furnace efficiency, scrap blends and captive renewables to cut emissions and power costs.
What it changes: Suppliers of energy-efficient furnaces, burners and solar systems can position payback, not just equipment.
Automation in MSME plants
Mid-size fabricators and re-rollers are adopting CNC, robotics and sensors as skilled labour gets scarcer.
What it changes: Demonstrations and financing options matter more than catalogue specifications at this buyer level.
Localisation of spares and services
Plant buyers are shifting from distant OEMs to regional suppliers who can service equipment within a day.
What it changes: A Raipur presence and a local service team are a real commercial advantage.
The same organiser runs a calendar of industrial and food expos; buyers can pair Raipur with Hyderabad, Mumbai or Indore.
Before the next plant shutdown
November is a practical buying window before year-end maintenance planning.
Sister-show dates from the organiser homepage; Hyderabad dates from a trade listing and should be reconfirmed.
Plan your trip
Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.
Swami Vivekananda Airport
Raipur main airport; prepaid taxis and app cabs to Great Eastern Road.
15 km
to venue
25-35 min
by car
Bilaspur Airport
Smaller alternate with limited flights; use only if Raipur fares are high.
115 km
to venue
2.5-3 h
by car
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
USD 35–55 / night
Clean business hotels within 20-25 minutes of the ground; book early for the show week.
USD 70–100 / night
Best balance of meeting space, breakfast and airport access.
USD 130–190 / night
International-standard rooms and lobby space for supplier meetings.
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
App cab
Ola and Uber operate in Raipur; allow extra time on day one.
Auto-rickshaw
Agree the fare before boarding; useful for short last-mile trips.
Plan your trip
Check the latest visa requirements and entry guidelines before travelling.
| Type | Who needs it | Fee | Processing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| e-Business Visa | Most foreign business visitors | $40.00 | 4-7 working days |
Check the official e-Visa eligibility list; some nationalities must apply at an embassy.
Confirm carnet acceptance with the organiser and Indian customs before shipping exhibition goods.
Official visa pageWeather
Late November is dry and comfortable in Raipur, with warm afternoons and cool evenings; the open ground can be dusty, so carry water and a light jacket.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
4G coverage is good across Raipur; buy an Indian eSIM or local SIM at the airport with a passport. Venue Wi-Fi may be limited, so use a hotspot for demos.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Language and greetings
Hindi is the working language, with English common in business meetings. A handshake and a business card are standard; use ji as a respectful suffix.
Food and dress
Vegetarian food is easy to find and many locals avoid beef. Smart-casual with comfortable shoes suits the dusty open ground; carry a scarf for dusty afternoons.
Practical guides
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Destination: RPR
Book 3-4 weeks ahead; direct flights to Raipur are limited, so a one-stop via Delhi or Mumbai is common.
Book flightsGet to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Prepaid taxi or app cab, 25-35 minutes, INR 500-800.
Hotel → venue: App cab or auto, 15-30 minutes depending on traffic, INR 150-350.
Ride-hail: Ola and Uber are reliable in Raipur; keep the app open for return trips.
Public transit: City buses are cheap but indirect; autos are better for the ground.
Parking: Open-ground parking near the main gate; arrive before 10:30.
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: November
Temperature: 15-28 C
Seasonality: Dry post-monsoon weather; rain is unlikely.
Packing: Light layers, comfortable shoes, sunscreen and a refillable water bottle.
Plan your trip
Best day to visit: Day 2 (28 November 2026)
Day one is busiest with inauguration traffic and press; day two has the fullest technical staffing while machinery demos are running and meeting slots are easier to secure.
Register online and book flights or train — Free business registration; keep the confirmation.
Book a hotel in VIP Road or Shankar Nagar — Show week fills mid-range hotels.
Build a target exhibitor shortlist — Pick 12-15 stands across steel, power and automation.
Download the floor plan and set meetings — Confirm two-hour slots with key suppliers.
Pack business cards, ID and comfortable shoes — Open ground is dusty; carry water.
Register at the main gate and collect the visitor badge
Main Gate, Great Eastern RoadWalk the steel and power plant equipment halls
Hall ALunch and informal supplier meetings
On-site food courtMachine-tool, automation and robotics demos
Hall BFollow-up meetings and business-card exchange
Exhibitor loungesSirpur heritage site
Heritage
About 80 km, 1.5-2 hours by road
Ancient temples and Buddhist remains make an easy half-day break from the show.
Chitrakote Falls
Nature
About 300 km, 6 hours by road
Chhattisgarh's best-known waterfall, worth a weekend extension if you have two extra days.
On-site food court
Informal
Best place for lunch meetings with exhibitors and plant teams.
Hotel Babylon International lobby
Hotel lobby
Quiet seating and coffee for supplier follow-ups after show hours.
Steel and power buyers compare several suppliers after the show; a fast, specific follow-up with drawings and a delivery date beats a generic brochure.
Budget
Shell scheme
INR 10000 / m²
Raw space
INR 7500–9000 / m²
Standard booth
9 m²
Official domestic rate is Rs 10,000 per sqm + GST, including the listed shell items. International participation is USD 250 per sqm + 18% GST. Raw-space band is a planning estimate.
sourceAdjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Official cost items and estimated ranges for exhibitors.
Shell booth
exhibitor · 9 sqm
INR 90000 / per booth
Hotel
both · mid
INR 6000–8000 / per night
Per diem
both · standard
INR 1800–2800 / per day
| Item | For | Tier | Estimated range | Status | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shell booth | exhibitor | 9 sqm | INR 90000 / per booth | official | 2026-10-31 |
| Hotel | both | mid | INR 6000–8000 / per night | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
| Per diem | both | standard | INR 1800–2800 / per day | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
Decision
Answer six quick questions to see whether National Expo 2026 is worth a visit, a stall, or a skip.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
What is your primary role?
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
You have live sourcing needs in steel, power or automation and can meet suppliers in person.
Best for
Plant engineers, procurement teams and dealers comparing equipment
Min. budget
$15,000.00
Timeline
1-2 days
Risks
Limited international exhibitor base
Dusty open-ground venue
exhibit
You can demo working equipment and have a local service or dealer plan.
Best for
Machinery, automation and electrical suppliers targeting central India
Min. budget
$250,000.00
Timeline
90 days
Risks
Heavy logistics for large machines
Visitor volume is not audited
skip
Your products do not serve plant, factory or industrial-channel buyers.
Best for
Buyers outside steel, power and heavy industry
Timeline
None
Risks
Missing a focused regional buyer base
Book with
Science College Ground
The open-ground exhibition venue on Great Eastern Road that hosts the 16th edition.
Venue named on the official event page and profiled on TradeIndia.
Air India
National carrier with connections to Raipur from Delhi and Mumbai.
Public airline resource; not a named show partner.
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
Government ministry supporting MSME participation and industrial exhibitions.
Public body resource; not a named show partner.
FICCI
National industry chamber that publishes manufacturing and steel-sector research useful to exhibitors.
Public industry body; not a named show partner.
Recommended providers
Official e-Visa application portal; apply 2-3 weeks ahead.
Filter VIP Road and Shankar Nagar for show-week rooms.
Compare direct and one-stop fares to Raipur (RPR).
Get a door-to-stand quote and allow 7-10 days for heavy cargo.
Business travel and exhibition cargo cover; read the machinery exclusion.
Check road conditions and guides for Sirpur and Chitrakote.
Use the mobile app offline and sync after each show day.
FAQs & glossary
Frequently asked
Glossary
Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
5 more alternate names hidden
Trust footer
4
References
3
Publishers
4
Date checked
Indore Infoline Pvt. Ltd.
Apni Sarkaar
TradeIndia
Display a free company card at your booth, or share your professional card on the show floor.
