Delhi’s JLN Stadium to be redeveloped into world-class Sports City: Sources
The famous Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi is getting a big makeover. Indian officials say the stadium will be taken apart and rebuilt into a modern “Sports City” that can host many sports and provide living quarters for athletes. The new complex will cover 102 acres—more than twice the size of the current stadium.
At a press briefing, a spokesperson from the Sports Ministry confirmed the plan. “The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will be dismantled and replaced by a Sports City built on the same model used for Qatar and Australia’s world‑class sports hubs,” the source said. The idea is to create a multi‑disciplinary centre that mirrors the 617‑acre Sports City in Doha, which includes football pitches, swimming pools, 13 indoor sports arenas and a specialised sports‑medicine hospital.
Turning the stadium into a 102‑acre Sports City will need coordination across many ministries, especially the Ministry of Urban Development. That means the project could take a while to start, but the government is already working on the preliminary plans.
The old JLN Stadium was built for the 1982 Asian Games and has long been the home of the Sports Authority of India (SAI). It also houses the Khelo India office, which runs the country’s training and competition programme. In 2010, the stadium was renovated ahead of the Commonwealth Games for more than ₹900 crore (about $115 million). The latest upgrades added a MONDO track— a high‑performance surface that helps athletes run faster and reduces injury risk.
Delhi’s Sports Minister, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, recently toured Qatar’s Sports City. He praised the 617‑acre facility for its world‑class amenities and said that India would aim to reach the same standard. In India, a comparable project is the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, built at a cost of ₹4,600 crore (around $600 million) on 250 acres.
The new Sports City in Delhi will help India meet its global sporting goals. The country is bidding to host the 2036 Olympic Games and is expected to win the 2030 Commonwealth Games in the coming weeks. A modern, multi‑sports centre would boost Delhi’s standing as a world‑class venue.
Besides sports, the JLN Stadium has also hosted big concerts and two cricket ODIs in the 1980s and early 1990s. Its cultural and sporting significance made it one of Delhi’s landmarks. With the Sports City plan, the stadium’s legacy is set to grow even further, offering athletes and visitors a cutting‑edge, all‑in‑one training and competition hub.
Source: ianslive
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