Attempts to milch Vallabhai Patel Stadium by hook or crook

4th of a series of investigation

By: Saumit Singh

The building which has come up in place of the open air stadium has 8 giant halls in petal shape on the ground level and an equal number on the first floor ringed by a corridor that can house small shops. What’s left of central playing area is a circle with a diameter of 60 meters, built like an amphitheatre. The floor has been cemented so the entire structure on the erstwhile stadium doesn’t have an inch of grass left.

“The stadium was meant for sports like football and hockey. A football field is around 100 meters long and 64 meters wide. Even if the arena was bigger, can you play football on a cemented floor? As for athletics, not even a 100 meter race can be held here because the diameter is just 60 meters. The velodrome is gone forever, the ground has been eaten up – the children from nearby areas will never be able to play here again,” pointed out one member.

Given the remaining space, at best, the central arena can sometimes be utilized for badminton and tennis, but the BMC had separately allotted space for that in the adjoining club house building called as the “warm up” building. The “Olympic Stadium” that was meant to host football, hockey and cycling has transformed into a closed arena that can just about accommodate a few tennis and badminton courts.

The design basis report however says that it can be used for hosting film award shows, pop concerts, trade shows and company annual general meetings.

Documents in our possession indicate that the office bearers have been attempting to sub-lease the building for 12 years to an “arena operator” – for a one-time payment of Rs 75 crore. In exchange, the arena operator would retain 100% of the revenues generated by the complex and car parking. In fact, a “pre-qualification questionnaire” had been drafted by a leading law firm in December 2006 to invite bids to manage the “stadium” which is now also being referred to as a “superdome”.

Meanwhile, the office bearers of NSCI remain in awe of contributions of BC Chawla for the cause of the indoor stadium over the last 30 years he’s been in the thick of the club’s affairs. In 2005, Bipin Mehta (the current chairman of NSCI) had moved a proposal to rename the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Indoor Stadium as the BC Chawla Sports Complex. The motion was passed “unanimously” but couldn’t be adopted after indignant ordinary members created a ruckus.