Chandigarh: Sector 17 football stadium work misses deadline

Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 26

Missing yet another deadline, the construction of the Sector 17 football stadium will now be delayed for a few more months.

The contractor confirmed that it will take at least two more months to hand over the ground’s possession to the UT Sports Department as the technical work, ranging from the levelling of the playing field to the installation of poles, is expected to take more time.

Earlier, officials were eyeing getting the possession of the stadium later this month. “The completion of work will take another two months. The Engineering Department has been informed. The department is yet to provide soil for levelling of spectators’ hill and other works are also pending,” said the contractor.

The project to develop a warm-up area and five-a-side Astroturf field is yet to be started, confirmed sources. “The delay was obvious due to the pandemic,” said the contractor.

The Engineering Department officials, meanwhile, remain unavailable to comment.

“At this pace, it will take more than six months to complete the work. The ground is yet to be levelled and the testing of the field is to be completed. A technical run by professionals is also a must as the ground is quite open… not feasible to stop the ball from going outside the stadium and also from the point of view of security. The sports department should consider all these facts,” said a source.

According to the actual plan, the new stadium is spread over nearly six acres. The direction of the football pitch is also being changed. It is for the first time after 1960 that the stadium is undergoing a major construction.

“The arena is under construction since 2018 and likely to remain close till the end of this year. The stadium, spread over nearly six acres, is said to be constructed as per the international standards with pavilion, sitting arena, open space, a video screen, sprinklers and solar panel,” said an official of the Engineering Department.

On water clogging, as the ground is made on a lower level to the existing road, the official claimed there is sufficient drainage provision to avoid water clogging in rainy days.

No security

Meanwhile, officials on duty maintained that the construction material usually gets stolen due to the open entrance of the stadium. “There have been many incidents where construction material got stolen in the night. Though a security guard remained present at the venue, the stadium is open from all directions,” said a guard.

“We cannot complain to the police or departments (sports/engineering) on a daily basis, it’s our responsibility till the time the work gets completed,” said the contractor.