Minister Khan inspects preparations for Bengaluru International Stadium groundbreaking ceremony
Bengaluru, May 20
Preparations are in full swing for the groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed international stadium coming up at Surya Nagar 4th Phase near Indlawadi in Anekal taluk on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Ahead of the event, Karnataka Housing Minister, Zameer Ahmad Khan, visited the site on Wednesday to review the arrangements being made for the ceremony.
Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) Chairman Shivalinge Gowda accompanied him during the inspection.
It can be noted that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is scheduled to perform the foundation stone laying ceremony on May 23 for the ambitious sports infrastructure project.
The minister reviewed the preparations for the grand stage and other facilities being readied for the programme. Officials informed that the arrangements are progressing at a brisk pace as only three days remain for the event.
This is the second visit by Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan to the project site in less than a week. He had earlier inspected the location last Saturday to assess the ongoing preparations and project status.
The proposed international stadium is being developed across 75 acres at an estimated cost of Rs 2,350 crore. The stadium is planned with a seating capacity of 80,000 spectators and is expected to emerge as a major sports infrastructure hub for Karnataka.
Officials said all major arrangements for the groundbreaking ceremony have already been completed.
It can be noted that the Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) project aims to become India's second-largest cricket venue. The development was expedited following a tragic crowd stampede at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in June 2025, prompting the need for a larger, modern facility with superior crowd management.
The initial phase will focus on the main stadium structure, allied works, and internal road infrastructure. Urban planners and critics have raised concerns regarding the remote location and the current lack of high-capacity road or Metro connectivity to the Anekal area.
The Karnataka Housing Board (KHB), in April, had called for tenders to execute the first phase of the project and according to sources, the tender has received good response.
"The last date to apply is May 16. Soon after that, we will conduct a technical evaluation, verification and issue work orders," a senior KHB official said.
Officials will go ahead with the foundation-laying ceremony before finalising the tenders, since the location for the stadium has been finalised. Phase one of the project will focus on construction of the stadium with a seating capacity of close to 80,000 and is expected to cost Rs 950 crore.
The KHB has completed the feasibility study and has come up with a specialised design for the stadium. According to documents, the 'seating bowl' design was inspired by the works of renowned structural engineer Walter P Moore.
The facility will serve as a multi-use stadium hosting national and international cricket matches as well as major concerts and events. Work on the project is expected to be completed by 2029.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally some serious investment in sports infrastructure in Karnataka! After watching the chaos at Chinnaswamy, this is a welcome move. But why does it always take a tragedy to get things moving? Anyway, excited to see an 80,000-seater stadium. Hope they also build good practice facilities for local cricketers. 🏏
Good initiative but I have my doubts. Anekal is so far from central Bengaluru. Without proper metro extension or wide roads, this stadium will be inaccessible for most people. The government should first focus on infrastructure before laying foundation stones. Also, Rs 2,350 crore is a lot - hope there's no corruption in tenders. 🤔
As someone who's lived in Bangalore for 5 years, I'm genuinely excited about this. The city deserves world-class sports infrastructure. But the location choice is perplexing - Anekal is quite far from the city center. I hope the state government has a solid plan for road widening and metro connectivity. Otherwise match days will be a logistical nightmare. Still, thumbs up for the vision! 👍
This is fantastic for Karnataka cricket! 80,000 seats will put Bengaluru on the global map for hosting big tournaments. But I'm worried about the timeline - 2029 is too far away. With India hosting 2029 Champions Trophy possibly, we might miss the deadline. Hope they speed up the work. Also, please ensure transparency in tender process. 🙏
Mixed feelings about this. On one hand, Bengaluru deserves a better stadium. On the other hand, the
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