Rs 90-crore indoor stadium gathering dust
A fully air-conditioned multipurpose indoor stadium built at a cost of around Rs 90 crore at Pakhowal Road, near Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, is reportedly underutilised since its inauguration in 2016. The state-of-the-art facility was built by the Municipal Corporation with the assistance of the Punjab Sports Department.
While the cost for the construction shot up four times from the initial estimate of Rs 20 crore, the stadium’s inauguration was delayed due to allegations of misutilisation of funds. It was finally declared open in November 2016 by the then Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Spread over 3.2 acres, the biggest centrally air-conditioned indoor stadium in Punjab has a seating capacity of over 4,000 people with facilities for various sports, including basketball, badminton, shooting, judo, table tennis and wrestling.
Constructed as per the Olympic standards, the facilities at the stadium include a gymnasium, lounges, changing rooms, club area, restaurant, food court, library and a function hall. It has a parking facility for around 250 vehicles, besides 70 commercial shops, most of which are lying vacant.
However, the potential of the stadium has not been fully utilised. Since its inception, the stadium has hosted only 15 sports events, including some private tournaments. As it is being not used frequently, the ACs have become non-functional and require a huge amount of money for either repair or replacement.
The stadium has been used for other functions like musical nights and religious events, which has left players and sports enthusiasts disappointed. They have been urging the authorities to hold sports activities regularly.
Sports administrators and enthusiasts have voiced their concerns over the underutilisation of the stadium. They believe that the facility should be used more effectively.
Sports promoter and former senior vice-president of Basketball Federation of India and general secretary of Punjab Basketball Association, Teja Singh Dhaliwal says the regular use of the facility would help maintain the playing surface, ensuring it remains safe and functional for athletes. “Maintenance of such venues is necessary to uphold the standards of excellence. An exhibition basketball match was played during the inaugural function of the stadium in 2016. Since then no tournament of basketball has been organised,” said Dhaliwal.
“The regular use of the stadium can indeed make maintenance a lot easier. Cleaning and sanitation can prevent dirt and dust from building up and reducing the need for deep cleaning. Additionally, the frequent use of the sports facility can help identify and address potential issues before these become major problems,” added Dhaliwal.
Balraj Sharma, Chief Executive Officer and ex-general secretary of Punjab Swimming Association, emphasised the importance of maintaining and utilising such sports facilities. An international referee who has accompanied teams to varsious nations, Sharma understands the value of world-class facilities.
He recalled that when the plan for the stadium was envisaged in late 1990s, representatives from various sports organisations, including himself and late Raj Kumar, general secretary, Punjab Volleyball Association, were invited. They had expressed concerns over the narrow roads leading to the proposed site, as the facility would struggle to accommodate large crowds in future. They had suggested exploring alternative locations, but their concerns were ignored by the officials who proceeded with the construction of the stadium, he recalled.
Sharma stressed that such world-class sports infrastructure is often created after overcoming several hurdles and it should be treated as a treasure. He called for responsible management and maintenance of sports facilities. “By doing so, players can optimise their training and performance, ultimately benefiting the sports ecosystem as a whole,” said Sharma.
Col JS Gill, a former national-level hockey player and sports lover, said stadiums that host a multitude of sporting events, concerts and community gatherings required constant and meticulous maintenance. The authorities must ensure functioning and aesthetic appeal of these structures for better user experience and longevity of such facilities, he added.
Dhaliwal, Sharma and Gill opined that it’s essential for the authorities to revisit their strategy and explore ways to revitalise the stadium, ensuring it becomes a vibrant hub of sports activities, benefitting the local community, especially the aspiring sportspersons.
Maintaining a large structure like the stadium requires significant resources and funding and if the stadium is not used regularly it can be challenging to generate revenue to cover the maintenance costs, they added.
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