Over Rs 2,500 crore was spent on Commonwealth Games stadiums. A year later, Aabhas Sharma finds them in a mess.
The most expensive junkyard in the world” is how Indian Olympic Association Chairman Vijay Malhotra describes the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi. Constructed at a cost of Rs 961 crore, the venue used for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Commonwealth Games hasn’t been used much for any kind of sporting event since then. Athletes have been denied to use the venue as well as its facilities, says Malhotra. “It is funny that while the stadium hasn’t been used, the chairs lie broken and parts of it have been vandalised,” he says.
When we try to gain access to the Nehru Stadium, we are told by the administrators that media entry is restricted to two days — 1st and 15th of every month. The guards at the gate (there are five at one gate), while helpful, say that they have been told not to allow in visitors. Nehru Stadium isn’t the only stadium lying underutilised by the authorities. The Delhi government, along with the organising committee for the Commonwealth Games, had spent over Rs 2,500 crore to develop these stadiums.
Let’s take a look at what events have taken place at these stadiums in the last 12 months. The Indira Gandhi Stadium, the venue for wrestling, cycling and gymnastics, hasn’t hosted a single event since the Commonwealth Games. “They just don’t know what to do with the velodrome,” says an SAI office bearer. The Talkatora Stadium, the venue for aquatics, hasn’t hosted any national or international event either. A couple of national camps and a few school-level meets have been held here. That’s all. The arena was readied for the Commonwealth Games at a cost of Rs 300 crore. The Karni Singh Shooting Range has played host to one national event in the last one year. The Yamuna Sports Complex has organised three national level archery events and one table tennis championship. The cost of hosting an event at this complex is close to Rs 1 lakh per day, which organisers think isn’t value enough for money. The Siri Fort Stadium has seen some action, unlike many other stadiums. An international Super Series event was held here, but then again the cost of holding an event is too high out here. The RK Khanna Tennis Centre has played host to a junior Davis Cup and junior Federation Cup events along with seven national events. The Dhyanchand National Stadium lies in a complete mess; apart from two hockey camps, no tournament has been organised. The Shivaji Stadium which was supposed to be ready for the Games last year is still waiting to be inaugurated — the red ribbon may now be cut in December.
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If there’s one stadium which has been used to a large extent it is the Thyagaraj Stadium. Unlike most other stadiums, this falls under the Department of Education in the Delhi government and the Public Works Department. The cost of holding events here is almost 50 per cent lower than most other stadiums. Thus, the Badminton Federation of India has held three national events here. Even the Asian Junior table tennis championship was held here. S R Sawoo, the administrator of the stadium, claims that it is booked till March next year. “Various national and international events have been held here and we try to offer reasonable rates to organisers,” says Sawoo. The stadium can host events like judo, badminton, table tennis and track & field events. The charges for the indoor multi-purpose hall are Rs 20,000 for national sports federations, Rs 10,000 for government agencies and Rs 50,000 for corporations. Companies like The Boston Consultancy Group, State Bank of India and Life Insurance Corporation have held their sports meets for employees at the Thyagaraj Stadium. Sawoo has no problems letting anyone into the stadium. “We have got nothing to hide, and in fact we want to show people that if maintained properly, the stadium can be used effectively,” he says as he oversees a national-level school competition here.
The government has tried to promote the stadiums through its pay-and-play scheme but Sawoo admits that, at least at Thyagaraj, it has failed to take off. But at Siri Fort, the scheme has been extremely well-received. Even outside the Nehru Stadium, there is a board welcoming children to come and play but the administrators refuse to divulge the details. Malhotra of IOA counters the pay-and-play scheme with a logical argument. “While it is good to have children play at world-class stadiums, but did we spend so much money for this alone?” The stadiums should be made accessible to the athletes at least, he says.
According to M L Dogra, president of Athletics Federation of India, athletes and federations avoid Delhi stadiums as they don’t have residential facilities. “It becomes a pain to train at these stadiums when you have to commute a lot for training,” he says. Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken says absence of a proper legacy plan has led to this situation. “When the stadiums were being renovated, the authorities should have laid down a blueprint of how to use them once the Games were over,” he says. He too is not impressed by the pay-and-play scheme. “I don’t think that’s the best way to utilise this magnificent infrastructure.”Ask him how it can be used best and he says, “We are working on it and will ensure that athletes get access to the facilities.”
While the main accused in the various scams that engulfed the Commonwealth Games are in Tihar Jail, their legacy still lives strong in the minds of Delhi and its citizens every time they cross any of the stadiums.
