Costly sports complex unused

Costly sports complex unused


Bengaluru, June 8: Rajiv Gandhi stadium at Chamarajpet, which was completed about three years ago is yet to be thrown open for sporting activities. Thanks to the apathy of BBMP officials in processing tender documents for outsourcing the stadium for sports activities, it has remained unused from the time it was constructed. The stadium has provision for both indoor and outdoor activities. The stadium was built at a cost of Rs 16 crore to promote sports activities, is still in the possession of the contractor who executed the work three years after its completion. Tenders were invited last year for outsourcing the stadium. But not many people participated in the tender process and the BBMP thought of revising the guidelines, the source added.

The BBMP took at least three years to frame guidelines and conditions for contract to invite tenders for outsourcing the stadium. Eventually, the BBMP had to obtain the services of Urban First — an agency to draw the guidelines — said BBMP sources. Explaining the delay, a BBMP official said the revised estimate for the stadium was approved by the government in September 2007.

The estimated cost for the project was Rs 14.5 crore. However, the project was finally completed at a cost of Rs 16 crore. Some minor work is still pending and it would be completed shortly, the official added. "The finalised guidelines have been sent to the BBMP legal section for approval. Based on legal opinion the tenders will be floated for outsourcing it. It also involves maintenance," the official said.

A member of Nada Prabhu Vokkaligara Kendra, Narayan, said that the stadium is already in a shambles. "Even before the stadium was inaugurated, it is ruined. Hardly any sports activities have been organised here. Public money to the tune of several crores has gone down the drain," Mr Narayana said. It is high time, that the BBMP sets right the anomalies and throws open the stadium.

Window panes of the stadium have been damaged. Some of the materials in the stadium have been stolen which have to be replaced, he said. The stadium has facilities to play squash and billiards it also has a library, auditorium, basket ball, yoga room and air conditioned theatre. That apart, it also has outdoor sporting facilities like synthetic lawn tennis, jogging track and volley ball.