Cricket stadium bigger than Kotla planned in Noida

NOIDA: A 50,000-seater cricket stadium will be built in Noida along the expressway in Sector 152, making it the third venue for international games in Delhi-NCR after the Ferozeshah Kotla and the Nahar Singh Stadium in Faridabad.

This new stadium, which the Noida Authority has planned as a venue for Test matches, ODIs and T20s, will be part of a sports city project. The stadium will also be bigger than the Kotla, which has a capacity of 42,000, and also the Faridabad stadium which can seat 25,000.

The Noida Authority on Wednesday invited developers to put together the unique concept on 125 acres of land. The sports city will include residential as well as entertainment and commercial space.

According to officials, the reserve price for the project is likely to be fixed at around Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per square metre. The scheme will open on June 8 and close on June 26. While pre-qualification bids will be finalized the same day, the date for financial bids will be announced a few days later.

"The aim is to create a world-class cricket stadium-cum-sports facility in Noida," said Rama Raman, chairman and CEO, Noida. The project is in keeping with Noida's master plan 2031, a senior official said. "This project will go a long way in establishing sporting infrastructure and become a sports destination besides putting Noida on the global sports map," Raman added.

Another cricket stadium, being built by the Jaypee Group, is coming up in Greater Noida and is also likely to be offered as a venue for international cricket.

The sports city proposed in Noida will also house a nine-hole golf course. "While 70% of the space will house the cricket stadium, other sports facilities and open areas, 2% of the remaining area will be reserved for commercial use and 26% for residential use," said Manoj Rai, officer on special duty, Noida Authority. "Facilities will include multipurpose playfields, indoor multipurpose sports hall, a gymnasium, a hostel for sportspersons, a medical care facility, internal roads and green spaces," he added.

Last year, Noida finalized a Rs 2,300-crore, 300-acre sports city in Sector 150, which is being developed by the Lotus Green group.

SOURCE: THE TIMES OF INDIA