Sydney will get a dose of Modi-mania on his quick-fire, high-energy visit, says Australian media

Sydney: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday arrived on a whirlwind six-hour visit to Sydney on the second leg of his four-city tour of Australia.

Australians newspapers and media are abuzz over Modi's visit to Australia. "Modi fever grips Sydney," said a headline in the Canberra Times. "The city will get a dose of Modi-mania when the Indian Prime Minister makes a quick-fire, high-energy visit."

"Narendra Modi express rolls into Sydney, bringing excited supporters," said the Guardian. Another headline describing Modi's persona said, "Narendra Modi: from international pariah to the G20's political rock star."

"Looks like it's gonna be India day in Sydney," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted. "Enthusiasm builds in Sydney. Even before PM ends Brisbane leg, excitement builds up at Sydney event," another tweet said on Sunday.

Modi, who arrived in Sydney from Brisbane after attending the G20 Summit, will proceed to Canberra on Monday and later to Melbourne. He is the first prime minister to visit Australia in 28 years after Rajiv Gandhi in 1986.

'Flash Mob' was organised outside Allphones arena ahead of PM Modi's arrival in Sydney. More than 16,000 members of the Indian diaspora will pack Allphones Arena at Olympic Park here to listen Modi at a community reception.

About 5,000 more are expected to be watching the evening event on big screens outside. More than 200 Modi fans left Melbourne on a specially a chartered train dubbed the "Modi Express" to attend Modi's speech at Allphones Arena on Monday evening.

(With PTI inputs)