THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The construction of the Kerala Cricket Association’s (KCA) first fully-owned stadium in south Kerala at Veiloor, near Mangalapuram here, has begun with the ground-levelling works under progress at the 9.5 acre plot.
The stadium is slated to become KCA’s second own stadium after the KCA Cricket Stadium in Krishnagiri, Wayanad, and is part of the sports body’s project to construct cricket venues in each of the 14 districts in the state.
“The construction is progressing such that the venue will see the first cricketing action as early as the next season,” said Vinod S Kumar, secretary of the Thiruvananthapuram District Cricket Association (TDCA), who estimated the first phase of the work could be completed within eight months from now.
“Our priority is to get the stadium match ready for the 2016-17 season. So in the first phase, we will be completing works of the playing surface, pitch, sprinkler system and a drainage system,” Vinod said. “A dressing room for the players will also be set up,” he added.
The lack of grounds for conducting first class matches is something that has concerned the district association for sometime now with the Medical College Ground and the Agricultural College Ground at Vellayani not up to scratch to host some of the country’s top cricketers. However, their concerns have been somewhat alleviated with the opening of the St Xavier’s College Ground in Thumba earlier this year.
The upcoming stadium at Managalapuram will cost the KCA around Rs 10 crore and will also have an indoor facility with three pitches, apart from the seven on the ground. A players’ pavilion and a gallery that can hold around 2,000 spectators are also mooted.
“These facilities will come up during the second phase of the project. They can be carried out without having an effect on the tournaments taking place at the facility,” said Vinod. The ground is located 1.6 km away from the Mangalapuram Junction.
In a few years’ time, the district is set to have two first class cricket stadiums in Mangalapuram and Thumba as well as the Greenfield International Stadium in Kariavattom that is capable of hosting international cricket matches promising a potential treat for cricket lovers in the state capital.