The jinxed and incomplete sports complex in Katedan in Rajendranagar Circle which has been gathering dust and hanging in the air since the last five years will be now be taken care of by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).
Initially, the sports complex was to be completed by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), but now that it has gone bankrupt and possesses no funds to complete the sport complex, the project has been surrendered to the state government, who in turn have asked the GHMC to complete the remaining 75 percent of the project at the earliest.
The GHMC has come forward to complete the sports complex at a cost of about `4.98 crore. The GHMC standing committee which met last week has approved the proposal to take over the incomplete project. They sought the permission for taking over the project from the HMDA and executing the balance works with an estimated amount of `4.98 crore in Phase-I which GHMC funds. After the nod from the standing committee, the same will be recommended to the general body for taking up the tasks.
It may be recalled that the HMDA has taken up the construction works of the sports complex in Katedan for which former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy laid the foundation on March 18, 2007. The works were to be executed in two phases. In phase-I, civil works like construction of compound wall, site development works, tennis court, kabaddi court, basketball court, volleyball court etc. were taken up and completed at a cost of `87.15 lakh.In Phase-II, the construction of the indoor stadium, internal pavement, pathways, sump and septic tank were undertaken at a cost of `6.66 crore. Out of the `6.66 crore, only about `1.50 crore was spent on the frame work and other minor components. The building, however, remained unfinished without any roof covering for the playing arena and thus exposed to weather. After spending around `2.40 crore and completing only 25 percent of the work, the HMDA due to paucity of funds stopped the works.
The MAUD principal secretary in a letter addressed to the GHMC dated August 7, 2012 enclosed it to former home minister, Sabita Indra Reddy and the additional secretary to the CM wherein he wanted the balance work of the stadium to be be taken up by the GHMC by utilising their funds.
GHMC officials told Express that in pursuance of government directions, the consultant for the sports complex, Ms STUP consultants Pvt Ltd have been asked to estimate the amount for completing the remaining project. It estimated the amount as Rs 7.50 crore for the completion of other ancillary works like roads, pathways, etc and make the building as well as precincts complete in all respects.
In the first stance, GHMC has proposed to cover the playing arena with shell roof and provide other basic and mandatory amenities at a cost of Rs 4.98 crore to bring it in a functional mode so that the facility can be made operational.
The remaining items can be addressed subsequently as per the necessity once sporting activities are held regularly.
They said that the HMDA planned a massive sports complex in the Katedan industrial area, but it could not see the light of the day. The Katedan sports complex would have been almost as big as the LB Stadium, which is spread over an approximately 9 acres of land.
HMDA officials said that the cost of the project was estimated at Rs 7.5 crore and works worth Rs 2 crore have already been completed. The area was fenced to protect from encroachments. Foundation work for an indoor stadium was done at the site, besides the preparation of turf. “It was due to a fund crunch that we had to put it on hold”, they said.