CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu’s ambitious Global Sports City project at Semmencheri on the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) may go the Parandur way, as the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) has terminated the Rs 205.89 crore work order awarded to RPP Infra Projects Limited for its construction.
A letter dated August 12, 2026, written by Member Secretary of SDAT J Meghanatha Reddy to the company said the government has decided to restructure and redesign the project, considering the total extent of land available, to develop a bigger, comprehensive, and all-encompassing sports city capable of hosting future national and international-level sporting events, including events of the scale of the Asian Games.
This comes following a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Minister for Public Works and Sports Development, Aadhav Arjuna. Top officials in the SDAT could not be contacted on whether the government is looking at alternative sites in Chennai.
The Global Sports City was planned over more than 80 acres in the first phase. The project was to include an international-standard football stadium, shooting ranges (10m, 25m and 50m), archery facilities, rowing and kayaking infrastructure, BMX cycling and skating arenas, multi-discipline indoor stadiums and residential hostels for athletes.
Semmmancheri was among the three sites finalised for setting up the Global Sports City. The other two considered were Kuthambakkam and Vandalur. The Semmmancheri site was prone to flooding and then Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena had asked Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) to prepare a stormwater drainage plan to avoid flooding.CMDA in trouble
Housing Minister B Rajkumar told the Assembly that the CMDA, which had remained largely self-sustaining for decades, made financial commitments totalling `6,945.8 crore in the last five years, forcing it to borrow funds
Firm disclosed scrapping of project in letter to NSE
Recently, environmentalists demanded the government to scrap the project saying that its location close to Pallikaranai marshland would cause flooding.
A few weeks ago, SDAT officials visited Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Gujarat.
The purpose of the visit, as per sources, was to see the possibility of creating a similar facility in the state. The authority will identify suitable site, which will likely be in Chennai, and construct a sports complex.
The foundation stone for the project was laid by then Chief Minister M K Stalin on February 18 2026. The original contract was disclosed to exchanges on February 20, 2026 by RPP Infra Projects Limited.
The company, in its submission to National Stock Exchange on Thursday, said it received formal communication from SDAT on August 12, 2026 confirming the work order had been cancelled.
The company said that it had already begun work under the order and incurred significant costs before the cancellation.
Project to be revised
The state government has decided to restructure and redesign the project to develop an all-encompassing sports city capable of hosting national and international-level events, including events of the scale of Asian Games
CMDA in trouble
Housing Minister B Rajkumar told the Assembly that the CMDA, which had remained largely self-sustaining for decades, made financial commitments totalling Rs 6,945.8 crore in the last five years, forcing it to borrow funds
