Guwahati/Hailakandi, Nov. 21: The Assam Cricket Association (ACA) today gave its seal of approval to the blueprint for a state-of-the-art cricket stadium to be built at a cost of Rs 50 crore at the Barsapara ground here.
After a presentation by consultants Sashi Prabhu and Associates and architect Abani Das and Company of Mumbai, the ACA gave its go-ahead to the project, suggesting minor alterations and modifications. “We have unanimously approved the drawing today and the execution will start as soon as possible,” association secretary Bikash Baruah said.
The consultants made their presentation during the ACA’s governing body meeting in the presence of association president Gautam Roy and vice-president Rockybul Hussain, among others.
The three-tier stadium, built on a 19-acre plot, can accommodate 45,000 spectators. It will be 200 metres in diameter and 32 metres in height. The drawings also include a clubhouse, which will have two health clubs, a unisex gym, two squash courts, two badminton courts and a restaurant and bar.
The consultants said the seating capacity could be extended by 5,000 if the ACA evicted some of the encroachers in the area. Calcutta-based firm Lloyds Insulation will execute the project. “It can be completed in 18 to 24 months of uninterrupted work,” one of them assured.
The consultants have executed several projects as joint ventures with Dona Builders. They have been involved in the construction of Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad, Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi, Usha Raje Stadium in Indore and several others. A unique feature of the stadium will be its hanging roofs on the lines of Wankhede Stadium.
The ACA has suggested an indoor cricket facility instead of the tennis courts adjoining the clubhouse, increase in seating capacity in the press gallery from 150 to at least 300 and more parking space.
ODI in Silchar
Union minister and chief patron of the Silchar District Sports Association, Sontosh Mohan Dev, said the BCCI was interested in hosting an ODI in Silchar in the forthcoming season, our correspondent adds from Hailakandi.
Dev said the BCCI has expressed interest to make Silchar’s Satindra Mohan Dev Stadium a venue for the next season.
