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New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the national capital is set for a major redevelopment. The landmark venue will be transformed into a full-fledged Sports City spread over 102 acres, with modern facilities for various sports and accommodation for athletes. The project is still at the proposal stage, and details regarding its cost and timeline are yet to be finalized.
According to a source in the Sports Ministry, “The stadium will be dismantled. All offices currently located inside, including the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), and the Income Tax Department, will be shifted once the project begins.”
The source added that the existing land, which spans more than 100 acres, is not being used effectively. “The Sports City will include arenas for multiple sports, training centres, athlete lodging, and even entertainment zones. It will allow us to host major events and provide top-class facilities,” the official said. At present, the stadium houses the headquarters of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Khelo India project office.
Implementation of the plan will need coordination among several ministries and departments, including the Urban Development Ministry. Because of this, work on the project is unlikely to start immediately. “It is still at the concept stage, but the ministry is serious about moving forward once the feasibility study is completed,” the source explained.
Officials involved in the project are studying models of international sports cities in Qatar and Australia. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya recently visited Doha’s Sports City, which covers 617 acres and includes football grounds, aquatics centres, indoor arenas, and a specialised sports medicine hospital.
Australia’s Docklands Stadium in Melbourne is another reference point for its multi-sport design. The venue hosts cricket, football, and rugby matches. In India, the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, built at a cost of Rs 4,600 crore and spread across 250 acres, offers facilities for cricket, tennis, aquatics, and athletics.
Ahmedabad is currently bidding to host the 2036 Olympics and is likely to stage the 2030 Commonwealth Games. “The JLN project will also be on a large scale. It will rebuild and upgrade the old infrastructure that has been deteriorating inside the stadium,” the source said.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was originally built for the 1982 Asian Games and underwent a major renovation costing Rs 900 crore for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. It recently hosted the World Para Athletics Championships, for which a new MONDO track, known for its speed and safety, was installed.
Over the years, the venue has hosted numerous events, including football matches and one-day cricket games. However, cricket was discontinued there after 1991 due to technical issues raised by the International Cricket Council. The stadium also serves as a venue for large concerts and commercial events.
Recently, the Sports Authority of India increased rental charges for non-sporting events and introduced stricter penalties for damage or poor maintenance of the premises during such functions.
