AHMEDABAD: The new Rs 584-crore Naranpura international sports complex has been granted administrative approval by the Union ministry of finance. It will route the budget for the project via Sports Authority of India (SAI)which is collaborating with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation to build the complex over 79,000sqm at Shastrinagar.
AMC officials said that the selected plot matches the criteria for hosting international sports venues with regard to the mobility plan of players and visitors.
Once ready, the sports complex can hold international and national sports events along with promoting community sports to make it more viable and usable, they added.
In its approval, the Union ministry has included the condition that the Union ministry of sports shall have the first right of use of the complex and it will be available free of cost to the Sports Authority of India and ministry of youth affairs and sports.
Municipal commissioner Mukesh Kumar stated, “For release of the first instalment of the grant the AMC will have to submit certificates that show all clearances including possession of land for immediate execution of the project.” The grants will be released by the Union sports ministry to the state government, which in turn will provide the funds to AMC. Any expenditure over and above the sanctioned project cost shall be borne by the AMC and the Gujarat government.
Civic body officials also said that the Sports Authority of India may run a Centre of Excellence in the sports complex.
Additional city engineer Rushi Pandya said, “What makes this facility different is that there will be a sports science and fitness centre along with lounge for players alongside change rooms and lockers.
A medical service station and training room with audio-video facility will also be part of the infrastructure.”
AMC officials said the centre will also have eight double-occupancy rooms for coaches and 89 triple occupancy rooms to accommodate 300 sportspersons apart from a dining hall to seat 150 persons. The parking facility has been planned for 800 two-wheelers and 850 four-wheelers.
