In a landmark move for Indian sports infrastructure, the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi is poised for a complete metamorphosis. The sprawling 102-acre complex will be transformed into a comprehensive Sports City, designed to become a hub for multiple sports disciplines and athlete development.
Project Vision and Current Status
Currently in its proposal stage, the ambitious project aims to fully utilize the vast land that has been underutilized until now. A source from the Sports Ministry confirmed that the existing stadium structure will be dismantled to make way for the new development. The timeline and budget for this massive undertaking are yet to be finalized.
All offices currently housed within the stadium, including the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA), the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), and the Income Tax department, will be relocated once the project commences. The stadium also presently serves as the headquarters for the Sports Authority of India and the Khelo India project office.
Learning from Global Models
To ensure world-class development, Indian officials are studying successful international models. They are examining sports cities in Qatar and Australia to develop the project framework. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya recently visited the Doha Sports City, a massive 617-acre facility that includes football, aquatics, and indoor sports facilities, along with a specialized sports medicine hospital.
Similarly, the versatility of Australia's Docklands Stadium in Melbourne, which hosts cricket, football, and rugby, is being considered. Domestically, the project will draw inspiration from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, a 250-acre facility built at a cost of Rs 4600 crore.
Historical Significance and Future Potential
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium has a rich history, having been constructed for the 1982 Asian Games. It underwent a significant renovation worth Rs 900 crore for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Most recently, it successfully hosted the World Para-Athletics Championship, for which it received a new, high-performance MONDO track.
Beyond sports, the venue has also been a popular spot for commercial activities, particularly music concerts by national and international artists. However, the Sports Authority of India has recently increased booking fees for non-sporting events and introduced penalties for failing to maintain the stadium's condition during such events.
The transformation into a Sports City promises to rebuild the existing, crumbling infrastructure within JLN Stadium and create a legacy sporting facility for future generations. The project's implementation requires coordination between various ministries, including the Urban Development Ministry, making immediate commencement unlikely, but the Sports Ministry is reportedly very serious about moving forward.
