The proposed sports complex will be developed over an area of 33,000 sq metre at a cost of Rs 7 crore
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to develop a cricket ground of international standards at Sambhaji Raje ground in Mulund East. The proposed mini sports complex will have a 90-diameter ground with a provision of 10 pitches for practice. The civic body claimed that cricketer Ajinkya Rahane used to practice on this ground, which the civic body recently reclaimed from Mulund Gymkhana.
The proposed sports complex will be developed over an area of 33,000 sq metre at a cost of Rs 7 crore. The Garden Infrastructure Cell (GIC) which is developing the sports complex has planned to build the ground as per international standards with maximum facilities, and also keep it open for public use.
Apart from the cricket ground, the GIC has also proposed to develop an international dimension-sized football ground. At present, the ground is being used by budding cricketers and football enthusiasts.
"At the planning stage, we got to know from avid cricketers that Ajinkya Rahane used to practice here in his initial stages of cricketing career," said an official from GIC. The civic body laos plans to develop a football ground, volleyball and basketball courts.
Recently, the BMC reclaimed the 4,000-sq-m plot from Mulund Gymkhana. "We will include this space to make a bigger sports complex. The 33,000 sq m ground will include this reclaimed space," added the official.
Vidya Paradkar, Rahane's coach welcomed the civic body's move. He said, "This is good news that the BMC is planning to develop it as a cricket ground." However, he added that the civic body must keep the ground open for the public instead of giving it to any private party and restrict entry.
However, Jayesh Kulkarni, one of Rahane's friends said that they used to practice at the Mulund Gymkahana ground and not on Sambhaji ground.
FUTURE PLANS
- The proposed sports complex will be developed over an area of 33,000 sq metre at a cost of Rs 7 crore.
- The GIC has also proposed to develop an international dimension-sized football ground.
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