The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) will consider constructing a cricket stadium on a 10-acre government land in Bondel, KSCA Honorary Secretary Brijesh Patel has said.
Talking to reporters here at the site on Wednesday, Mr. Patel said the area, a few metres away from the proposed district Rangamandira, was suitable for construction of the stadium, the need for which is long felt. “We would send a proposal to the government in the next few days,” Mr. Patel said.
Earlier, he visited the 10-acre land, which was proposed in 1960 to construct a district administration complex. The foundation was laid for a district Rangamandira on the adjacent site in August 2010. Mr. Patel was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim, KSCA Mangalore Zone Convenor Manohar Amin and officials from the Revenue and Public Works Department.
Mr. Patel told Mr. Ibrahim that with the available land the KSCA could built a stadium that would accommodate around 16,000 spectators. While the ground alone will be of four acres, other facilities including practice pitches and club house would come up in the remaining area, he said. A KSCA would consult an architect after getting details of the land that would be available. The KSCA would take around two years to build the stadium of international standards, he said.
Mr. Ibrahim said the land, near the Mangaluru International Airport, would be given to the KSCA on a 30-year-lease. “After a proposal is given, we will place it before the committee headed by the district in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai and then send it to the government,” Mr. Ibrahim told reporters.
Mr. Patel told reporters that the KSCA was focusing on improvement of facilities in mofussil areas. Ground and lights have been installed in Hubballi where Karnataka Premier League matches and of Ranji Trophy matches were held. Ground and pavilion were ready in Raichur and Belagavi. The KSCA intends to have stadiums at each of the districts if land was available.
Mr. Patel said the turf practice wickets prepared by the KSCA near Sahyadri Engineering College in Adyar had been of less use as it was located away from the city. “The land proposed now is ideal,” Mr. Patel said.
