Construction not over yet at Sec 17 football stadium

Deepankar Sharda

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 10

There’s no end to construction at the Sector 17 football stadium. Earlier, UT Engineering Department replaced concrete floor at the stadium entrance and repaired water pipelines.

The stadium was handed over to the UT Sports Department on trial basis recently. And within days, flaws have started to emerge. The Engineering Department has already failed to satisfy football experts over the structure of the stadium. However, in order to cover-up, the department has repaired everything overnight.

The work to replace the present concrete floor has started at various patches around the stadium. Not only this, sources claimed that a survey by experts revealed that more such major repair work was needed at many other places. The current situation is expected to delay the process of officially handing over the stadium to the UT Sports Department.

“Many cracks have started to emerge on the concrete floor, which is now being replaced. The boundary of the upcoming open basketball court has the same issue. We can’t say anything officially,” said a worker at the stadium.

Sports Department officials maintained that they were yet to get possession of the ground.

“These are minor works, which will be completed before handing over the ground to the Sports Department. We have yet to install a steel-fence behind goal posts and prior to that minor works will continue,” said an official present at the spot.

The stadium, built in 1960s, has been reconstructed under the ‘Urban Park’ theme. As per the actual plan, the stadium and its surroundings were to undergo a major revamp with the inclusion of cycling/skating park, badminton hall, multipurpose ground and many other facilities. The new stadium is also stated to have a 25x16m live screen, which is yet to be installed.

“Officials should be blamed for the delay and problems occurring at the stadium. Since four years, the Engineering Department is constructing this ground. As time to handover the arena comes near, flaws have started emerging at the stadium,” said a senior coach.