Daijiworld Media Network- Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Aug 10: Karnataka is set to get one of the largest sporting arenas in the country, as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has approved the construction of a state-of-the-art, 80,000-seat stadium at Bommasandra. The ambitious project, estimated at Rs 1,650 crore, will be undertaken by the Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) and funded entirely by the board.

Housing department sources revealed that the mega sports complex will not be limited to cricket. It will feature eight indoor and eight outdoor sports facilities, world-class gyms, training centres, Olympic-standard swimming pools, guest houses, hostels, three-star and five-star hotels, and a convention hall for international events.

The CM’s approval came on Friday night following a detailed presentation by housing department officials and the housing minister. The KHB has already acquired 4,000 acres in Surya City for housing projects, with 53 acres earmarked for the stadium. Negotiations are underway to acquire an additional 22 acres from private parties, with land compensation to be given in developed layouts.

Officials estimate the project will be completed within three years of commencement. Upon completion, it will become the second-largest cricket stadium in India, after the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which seats 1,32,000.

The recent tragic stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, which claimed 11 lives, is believed to have prompted the government to fast-track plans for an additional large-capacity venue in the city.