Tamil Nadu launches district-wide turf project

Chennai

In a major push to promote grassroots sports and boost revenue, the Tamil Nadu Sports Department will establish futsal and box cricket turfs in all 38 districts across the state. While 37 districts will have facilities at their respective headquarters, Chennai’s turf will be located at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Each turf, costing ₹60 lakh, will be equipped with markings for both futsal and box cricket, covered nets, specialized futsal goalposts, and centralised lighting systems. The facilities will also include ample parking and remain operational until 1 a.m. to support night-time play.

Meghanath Reddy, Member-Secretary of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT), said the department will oversee turf operations directly. “We are developing a dedicated booking app, similar to private platforms, with hourly charges between ₹800 and ₹1,000—far less than the ₹1,500 typically charged elsewhere,” he said.

He added that group bookings, popular among youth, will further reduce individual costs. “This will bring modern sports infrastructure, previously confined to major cities, into smaller towns and rural areas,” Reddy noted.

A standard turf will measure 100–120 feet in length and 50–70 feet in width, with 20-foot-high nets and high-grade lighting to facilitate safe and extended play.

The initiative follows the success of a similar project in Chennai’s Chepauk, where the privately managed Turf Town generates ₹3 lakh in monthly revenue and shares profits with SDAT. In phase two, similar turfs will be established in village panchayats under the Chief Minister’s Mini Stadia Scheme, expanding access to quality sports facilities across Tamil Nadu.