NEW DELHI: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has proposed a public-private partnership (PPP) model for the 13 stadiums under its education department, under which a single private operator would be appointed for each facility to develop, operate and maintain sports infrastructure at its own cost.
According to the draft policy, which is currently being finalised and will require formal approval from higher authorities, the initiative aims to “activate underutilised stadiums through the development of high-quality multi-sport infrastructure without any direct capital expenditure by the civic body.”
At present, the MCD operates 13 stadiums that are primarily used for inter-zonal games and tournaments involving students enrolled in its schools. These facilities host a range of sporting activities, including football, cricket, volleyball, badminton and athletics.
Under the proposed framework, professionally managed coaching academies will provide free access to students enrolled in MCD schools, while residents of Delhi will be able to avail coaching facilities on commercial terms determined by the operator.
The proposal states that structured multi-sport coaching, sustained infrastructure maintenance and the creation of competitive sporting opportunities require a single accountable professional partner.
It argues that engaging multiple vendors for different functions fragments accountability, increases costs and adversely affects the quality of outcomes. As per the proposal, each selected operator will be responsible for developing, operating and maintaining sports infrastructure in exchange for permitted commercial use of the facilities.
The policy describes the model as the most efficient and accountable mechanism for revitalising stadiums under the administrative control of the MCD’s education department.
The civic body has also proposed a long-term commercial framework aimed at attracting private investment in sports infrastructure. Sources familiar with the matter said operators would be offered a stable policy environment with clearly defined obligations and exclusivity within a designated geographical zone.
The policy also proposes the use of digital and other monitoring tools to track both developmental and financial aspects of the scheme, while placing emphasis on transparency, accountability and compliance with child-protection laws.
