1 week Ago By Vibha Sharma
NEW DELHI: Municipal Corporation of Delhi ( MCD ) has completed 60% work on the redevelopment work at Ambedkar Stadium in central Delhi, said officials. The Rs 5.6-crore project aims to revamp the entire complex by Dec-end.
The redevelopment includes major improvements in the cafeteria, green rooms and the facade , modernising the toilets, upgradation of the stands and carrying out repairs. A media centre is also set to be added. MCD had initiated the tender process in Feb.
"The stadium will be developed to hold international football matches , including some upcoming games featuring Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan," said an official. The engineering department is responsible for the civil work at the complex. The official had earlier said the project involves enhancing the facilities for players by building dressing rooms and renovating the west stands in the seating area.
The project also includes redesigning gate numbers 4 and 5, which visitors use to enter the facility, and electrical work. Giving an update on the project, an MCD official said the work on the construction of the changing area and toilet block is in the finishing stage. "We have removed all rooms constructed at a corner of the ground and used by MCD officials.
The area will now be utilised for developing a cafeteria, and the work on the construction of the media room and VIP enclosure will be taken up after that. The work to improve the facade of the stadium is being carried out simultaneously, and we are expecting to finish the work on time," said the official. Moreover, the drainage network at the complex will be upgraded to ensure rainwater collected in the lawn and ground is properly cleared.
Ambedkar Stadium, which can accommodate about 35,000 spectators, has hosted major national football tournaments, such as Durand Cup, Subroto Cup and Nehru Cup. The stadium has also been used for key MCD events and recreational activities, including Bal Diwas, where thousands of MCD students usually participate, said the official. "With the construction of the stadium, students of our schools who are engaged in sports activities will get better training facilities.
The corporation will also be able to organise sessions for them on a regular basis," the official had earlier said. The last renovation of Ambedkar Stadium took place before the 2010 Commonwealth Games. However, a comprehensive revamp had been pending for a long time.
Due to lack of proper maintenance, the building's plaster was damaged in several places at the entrance and inside the complex. The spectator stands along Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg were in poor condition too, with iron bars exposed near the facade..
