Took 15 years to complete, indoor sports stadium still waiting for events

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 7

A lot of money was spent on the construction of indoor stadium at Pakhowal Road, which took about 15 long years to get complete.

The stadium was finally inaugurated with much fanfare by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal himself on November 12, 2016, and it was expected that it would be of great help to sports lovers as different kinds of sport events (indoor) could be organised here. But the expectations, it seems, have not met the desirable conclusion, as just one event that too by a school was held in the past one month.

To utilise it properly and to maintain it on a regular basis, the Municipal Corporation authorities are planning to rope in private players, to whom its contract could be given.

And if reliable sources in the civic body are concerned, the MC is planning to hold the General House meeting this week itself, in which the approval to provide it to the private player could be taken.

When asked about the development on indoor stadium, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Kanwa preet Brar said: “Deliberations are on to provide it on contract so that it can be maintained properly. But for this, permission of Mayor and General House will be sought. We expect to bring in our agenda items in the General House meeting, expected soon.

The indoor stadium at Pakhowal Road was constructed in phases, whenever there were sufficient funds with the government. The cost of construction had almost doubled as it was not completed on time previously. Tall claims were made by the government that it would be beneficial for sports lovers as many games could be played inside the stadium. But sports people found technical flaws in it and had maintained that a few games could not be played here.

Now that the stadium is ready, it is still waiting for being utilised properly.