Kalina will get world-class tennis stadium

There’s good news for Mumbaikars. The city is going to have a world-class tennis facility stadium.

The blueprint is ready and, if all goes well, work on the stadium is expected to start soon.

The stadium, to be constructed in Kalina, is a joint venture between the state government, the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and Mumbai University, with the Association taking the initiative. The project is estimated to cost around Rs70 crore, but the final budget is expected to cross Rs150 crore.

“The plan is ready. Once we get the approval of the Centre and state governments, the work will start,” said Vijay Khole, varsity vice-chancellor.

Anil Khanna, the AITA secretary, said, “Tennis is a fast-growing sport in India and Mumbai. We always missed an international stadium. It is good that we are going to have one soon,” he said.

The city, despite having many tennis facilities, never had a proper stadium devoted to tennis.

“Mumbai is India’s commercial capital, but don’t have a tennis stadium of international standards.

“Hopefully we’ll have one soon,” said Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh at the draw ceremony of the India-Pakistan Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group I tie at the Raj Bhavan here on Thursday. Governor SM Krishna agreed.

“Last year, I visited Shanghai and was amazed to see the newly constructed state-of-the-art stadium (the Qi Zhong final which hosted the ATP Masters Cup last November).

“I wondered when we are going to have such a facility,” he said, adding, “it is good that it is happening.”