Lost in transit

What are those?

“More parking space, small media centres at each venue. Also, mixed-zones and other statutory facilities, plus better accommodation.”

However, at the same time, modernisation will bury some fond memories of the 1982 Asian Games. With renovation beginning next month at all major stadiums constructed for the ‘82 Games including the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, Nehru Stadium, Dr Karni Singh Shooting Ranges and Talkatora swimming complex much familiar masonry will be a thing of the past.

National pride

The National Stadium, a landmark in the history of Indian sport, was also the venue for the inaugural edition of the Asian Games in 1951. It saw the best of pomp and grandeur, when the Games were inaugurated by President Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, in the presence of Prime Minister Pt Jawaharlal Nehru.

The stadium underwent a major renovation prior to the 1982 Games. In 1995, a statue of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand was installed at the entrance of the stadium. And in 2003 the stadium was renamed after him.

The proposed renovation here will not touch the frontage, the statue. Other sections of the stadium including the main lobby, conference hall and VIP lounge will be remodelled.

The current seating capacity of 25,000 will be upped to 40,000 and the stands will be redesigned to be more spectator-friendly. Two Astroturf surfaces and a hockey pitch are expected to be re-laid. They will be connected with the players’ tunnel.

There will be hostel accommodation with 100 beds. Hockey apart, it also has facilities for swimming, tennis and cricket. The swimming pool will also be renovated. According to SAI officials, after renovation, the stadium will remain a major attraction for hockey.

New show, for big show

The Nehru Stadium, apart from athletics and football, was the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1982 Games. Here the seating arrangements will be redesigned to be more spectator friendly, but the big difference will be outside. Modern day additions, like escalators, will be the change (replacing many staircases), and even the frontage will be modified. Driving past, you will be looking at a brand new scenario. Athletics Federation of India officials are looking forward to it. Ordinary folks will have to keep their fingers crossed, hoping it does result in something pleasing to the eye.What may surely be called a ‘facelift’ will be the upgrading of the residential wing. It can only get better.

Water-shed

The Indira Gandhi Sports Complex is an imposing structure, even more so inside. It has facilities for indoor games such as badminton, table tennis, wrestling and basketball. Adjacent to the indoor arena is a cycling velodrome.

However, the IG Stadium, as it is commonly known, has always been the talking point for its roof. It has a fancy semi-dome design, but possibly that wasn’t the best design from the engineering point of view. Umpteen seepage incidents, though, haven’t added to its USP, especially when international events had to be halted midway.

That shall change. The SAI version is: “There will be major changes to improve existing facilities, including the internal air conditioning system. A mini-wrestling indoor arena will also come up.”

From the outside you will probably see it get a trifle bloated, but with a great deal more of gleaming steel and glass. If it goes to plan, maybe you will find it better for the change.

A new target

Dr Karni Singh shooting ranges came up during the 1982 Games, and the need for renovation was there—change in electronic pulleys, increase in seating capacity etcetera, etcetera, all very modern.

Walk around it later, you should be thrilled with the gadgetry, though one hopes the natural ambience of greens and the quiet is not disturbed.