How Ahmedabad is building world class sports facilities to turn Olympic ambitions into reality

With the Commonwealth Sport's recommendation as Ahmedabad the hosts for the 2030 Commonwealth Games (CWG) on Wednesday, the spotlight has straightaway turned towards the country's big ambitions to host the 2036 Olympics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been the loudest voice towards turning this dream into reality and Union Minister Amit Shah is overseeing India's bid to host the Olympic Games.

It is learnt that Doha has emerged as Ahmedabad's key competitor for the 2036 Olympic bid. Incidentally, they will host the 2030 edition of Asian Games, the same year as the CWG.

Unlike the CWG, India plans to expand Olympics into multiple cities. As reported earlier, Bhubaneswar is projected to host hockey, rowing in Bhopal, canoeing and kayaking in Pune, and cricket in Mumbai. Ahmedabad, on the other hand, is seen as the main city to host the 2036 Summer Games.

In fact, Shah after laying the foundation stone of the Rs 316.82 crore 'Para High Performance Centre' in Gandhinagar virtually had reiterated India's resolve to host the 2036 Olympics. He had then announced that ten big stadiums are going to be built at the Sardar Patel Sports Complex, which is adjacent to the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium - the world's largest cricket stadium.

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Major zoning changes

As reported by The Times of India earlier this month, the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) has already began planning and paving way for residential and sports infrastructure projects. The authority has approved major zoning changes in areas surrounding the proposed 45-metre-wide Sanand-SP Ring Road corridor, a decision which was taken at its 306th board meeting on July 14.

This will see the land around Shilaj, Manipur, and Palodia be converted into residential zone-2 (R-2). Interestingly, 82.8 hectares falling in the region was earlier classified as "prime agricultural zone", the report stated. It added the state government in 2014 had restricted construction in almost 33 hectares in Shilaj and locked it into agricultural status. Now ten years later the rules are being modified in order to meet the city's ambitions to host sports biggest extravaganza.

"Rezoning will speed up work on the planned 45-metre road, which cuts through these lands and will be crucial for easing traffic between Sanand and the city," a senior official had told the national daily explaining the decision. "This corridor has development potential on both sides. Rezoning will ensure that the road can be constructed without delay," he added.

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The report also mentioned that in addition 117.4 hectares spread across Godhavi, Nidhrad, and Kaneti will shift into residential zone (R-1). This will unlock massive area of land for new housing, building sports facilities, and transport links, which will cumulatively form part of the 'South-West Ahmedabad Sports Arena', making it sufficient to host Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.

During the same meeting, the authority gave a green signal to draft seven TP schemes (Town Planning) in villages in the vicinity of Ahmedabad, which covers nearly 1,000 hectares. The objective is to provide planned plots for residence, commercial uses, and ensure there are areas reserved for roads and civic infrastructure in the future. Saij, Manipur, Godhavi, Kaneti, and Nidhrad were the regions listed by the national daily falling under the TP schemes.

Projects worth over Rs 6,000 crore

Previously reported by the Indian Express, there are projects worth over Rs 6000 crore underway in Ahmedabad and “will go ahead, irrespective of whether India’s bid for the Games is successful.”

Naranpura Sports Complex: The complex, which reportedly was built for Rs 825 crore and is likely to be one of the main venues for the 2030 CWG, recently hosted the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship and the Asian Swimming Championship. The multi-purpose facility spreads over 20.39 acres and includes Olympic-sized indoor swimming pool, basketball, volleyball and badminton courts, gymnastics, kabaddi, wrestling and taekwondo arenas, table-tennis room, and a Centre of Excellence for all these sports.

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Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (SVP) Sports Enclave: As per Times of India, the SVP Sports Enclave will spread around 650 acres surrounding the Narendra Modi Stadium and will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 5,050 crore. As per previous reports, the complex will boast a multi-purpose indoor arena, aquatics and tennis centres as permanent venues. The enclave, on the other hand, will act as "temporary venues” for volleyball, 3×3 basketball, sport climbing and urban sports.

Karai Sports Hub: Meanwhile, Karai Sports Hub spreads across 143 acres and athletics will be held at this venue, for which a 35,000-seater stadium is also being constructed. The Karai Police Academy will house the shooting complex.

The deadline to complete all the project is 2028.

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