For anyone who remembers its glory days, a visit to the cycling velodrome at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana is a heartbreaking experience. Opened in 1989 and once considered a world-class facility, the track is now a shadow of its former self, fading into obscurity and neglect.
A Legacy in Ruins: The Current State of the Velodrome
This iconic venue, which played a significant role in training cyclists for national and international competitions, is now plagued by serious infrastructural flaws. Athletes and sports enthusiasts report that these deficiencies are directly impacting the quality of training and, more critically, the safety of the riders.
Regular users of the facility have listed a catalogue of problems. The seating area for spectators is damaged with visible cracks, while inadequate lighting makes evening practice sessions difficult and hazardous. There is also a concerning shortage of essential cycling equipment required for proper training regimens.
The most alarming issues, however, lie with the track surface itself. The 333-metre concrete track, the velodrome's centerpiece, shows extensive signs of wear and tear. Crucial guiding lines and markings for training and competitions have faded or are completely missing. Visible cracks and gaps have appeared across various sections, and during the monsoon, water logging blocks parts of the track, rendering it unusable and unsafe.
A Glorious Past Contrasts with a Decade of Decline
The velodrome's history highlights how far it has fallen. Constructed in 1989 by the state sports department on PAU land at a cost of approximately Rs 4 crore, it was designed to international standards. Its facilities included a pavilion, changing rooms, washrooms, a media centre, administrative offices, and a workshop.
It hosted prestigious events like the Asian Cycling Championship in 2005 and was a venue during a major multi-sport event in 2001. The last notable national event held here was the National Cycling Championship (Track) in 2015, which saw participation from 24 states. Tellingly, no national-level competition has been organized at the velodrome for nearly ten years, a gap cyclists say mirrors the infrastructure's decay.
Funding Crisis and the Search for Solutions
When questioned about the decline, authorities point to a severe lack of financial resources. Dr Paramvir Grewal, the in-charge of the PAU cycling track, stated that no formal complaints about the problems had been officially registered by any cyclist or coach.
He emphasized that the university has consistently tried to maintain the velodrome since its inception, despite receiving no dedicated funding from the sports department. Dr. Grewal revealed that PAU is now considering a new approach: introducing an annual fee for individuals from outside the campus who use the facility. The revenue generated from this fee would be channeled directly into maintenance work.
The velodrome is part of the larger PAU sports complex spread over 35 acres, which includes facilities for athletics, basketball, badminton, cricket, football, handball, and hockey. The fate of this cycling landmark now hangs in the balance, dependent on innovative solutions to secure the funding needed for its survival and revival.
