Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium proposed to make way for Sports City in the national capital Today Sports News

The iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the heart of the national capital is set to make way for a world-class Sports City complete with infrastructure and residential facilities if a Sports Ministry proposal gets through.

Although the proposal is still in the planning stage with details yet to be worked out, ministry sources said the huge 102-acre complex will be completely ‘dismantled’ and rebuilt for optimum usage of space.

“Right now, less than 30% of the total area is being utilised. The proposal envisions creating a self-sufficient Global Sports City on the lines of the Dubai Sports City, facilities in Australia and similar projects which we are studying,” sources explained.

The rebuilt project will have hosting and training facilities for all major sports, residential blocks, entertainment avenues and sports clubs. “Like Aerocity in Delhi which has everything necessary for a business environment, this will cater to sports needs. All offices inside the stadium will be relocated as and when the project gets off the ground,” sources added.

The newly-laid Mondo tracks at the venue might be shifted to another facility elsewhere in the country.

The stadium, built in 1982 for the Asian Games and upgraded in 2010, currently houses several organisations, including headquarters of the Sports Authority of India, which also owns it, the government’s flagship Khelo India project office, the National Anti Doping Agency, the National Dope Testing Laboratory and the Income Tax department.

Recruitment drive

Meanwhile, the Sports Ministry has also begun its largest-ever recruitment process for assistant coaches with the SAI and the first major drive since 2017 with 320 appointments in the first phase.

“These vacancies will be filled in across 25 disciplines and we are planning to have the same number of appointments later in phase two. The selection process will be transparent with 50% for women for gender inclusivity,” Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said here on Monday.

The recruitment process has been prepared with Olympic and Asian Games medals in mind. “Assistant coaches’ cadre is very important to strengthen the sports development framework of the country and to provide structured and high quality coaching support to athletes,” Mandaviya added.