AMC to raze and rebuild Sardar Patel Stadium in Navrangpura

Ahmedabad: The Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has in principle given green light for the demolition of the Sardar Patel Stadium in the Navrangpura area of the city. In its place, a new stadium will be constructed with modern infrastructure, keeping in mind Olympic standards.

Over the years, the stadium, which is located on a vast 67,000 sq m plot, has mainly been used for political and cultural gatherings, with limited use for sporting events. However, since last April, the AMC has deemed it unsafe even for these activities. The aging structure shows visible signs of wear, with cracked stands and gates, along with exposed, rusting iron, posing safety risks.

While renovating the stadium would have cost about Rs 60 crore and building a new one is expected to be more expensive, the latter option is still more viable, said an AMC official.

Funding for the new stadium had been allocated in AMC’s 2023-24 budget. However, the project may become part of an Olympic enclave if a proposal to the Olympic Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is approved, in which case the SPV would cover the construction costs.

If the Olympic SPV does not cover the expenses, AMC intends to explore a public-private partnership for funding.

A senior BJP leader in AMC affirmed, ‘We are considering the demolition of the existing structure. Instead of spending a significant amount on repairs, building a new stadium is a more practical idea that will have a lifespan of another 50-60 years. DeshGujarat