HUBLI
The Nehru stadium, the only sports ground in the city, is still not open for the public, despite the completion of redevelopment works.
Sports enthusiasts and others are blaming the lethargic attitude of the authorities and the elected representatives in this regard. Youths use the ground, especially during morning and evening hours, but the indoor games facilities are not yet thrown open for the public. Hence, they are forced to rely on private centres for their regular practice.
Prabhakar, a sportsman and a college student, said, we are fed up with the lethargic attitude of the authorities. As the stadium is situated in the heart of the city, it’s convenient for everyone. We are now forced to use the private facilities. The authorities should allow us to use the indoor games facilities.
The redevelopment works at Nehru stadium, which started in July 2020, was completed in three years. However, due to technical glitches, the stadium has not yet been handed over to the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) even after it was virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 12 this year. As the elected representatives of HDMC raised concerns over the quality of development works under the Smart City project, the handing over process between the Hubballi-Dharwad Smart City Limited (HDSCL) and HDMC hasn’t happened officially.
When contacted, Basavaraj Dharmanti, DGM, HDSCL, said that the redevelopment works, at a cost of Rs 25.4 crore, have already been completed at the stadium. Facilities for outdoor games like football, volleyball, basketball, kabaddi and open gym as well as indoor games like mat kabaddi, mat wrestling, karate training, chess, carrom and table tennis have been arranged at the stadium, he said.
