Maharashtra is planning a world-class sports infrastructure with the state government backing the development of a 100,000-capacity cricket stadium in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The project, which will fall under the jurisdiction of the Mumbai Cricket Association, will add a major new facility to Maharashtra’s existing sporting infrastructure.
Once completed, the stadium will become the second-largest cricket venue in India, after the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which currently holds the distinction of being the world’s biggest cricket stadium with a seating capacity of around 132,000.
The proposed venue for the stadium is Navi Mumbai. State minister Ashish Shelar stated that the connectivity, transportation systems, parking facilities, and necessary infrastructure be fully considered when selecting the appropriate site.
The move follows a meeting between MCA president Ajinkya Naik and CIDCO managing director Vijay Singhal, where discussions took place on the roadmap for what is set to become one of the largest cricket stadiums in the world.
The option of building a stadium in the proposed Sports City area in Navi Mumbai is also being considered, and approximately 50% of the land has already been acquired. Minister Advocate Shelar directed that the remaining land be acquired in phases to expedite the project.
In addition to preparing the necessary plans for the project, Minister Advocate Shelar directed the government to begin the process of appointing a project management consultant, and prior to that, focus on finalizing the site and completing basic planning.
Minister Advocate Shelar also directed all relevant departments to work in coordination to ensure timely completion of the stadium project.
It was revealed on the occasion that approximately 40 acres of land may be required for the stadium and an additional 30 acres for other supporting facilities. An initial report will be submitted by mid-April to review the project in detail, followed by a review meeting.