ABVP stages protest over privatisation of sports facilities at Gujarat University
Updated: Apr 26th, 2025
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged a protest against privatisation, objecting to three sports facilities at Gujarat University being rented out and demanded the formation of a dedicated sports cell at the varsity in Ahmedabad.
A multi-crore sports complex at the university and excellent sports facilities are gathering dust, with students unable to use these facilities due to poor planning and negligence by the university administration.
A recent inspection by the NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) team also noted in their report that the university’s sports complex and facilities are underutilised.
ABVP student leaders staged a loud protest on Friday over the issue, raising slogans and entering the vice chancellor’s office to demand the formation of a sports cell. As per their complaint, the Dronacharya Academy of Shooting and the university’s Indoor Stadium are both closed due to the absence of coaches.
Moreover, the university has leased out the badminton and tennis centres to two private companies/agencies. There are also ongoing privatisation processes for yoga and shot put training through private academies.
The university is reportedly moving forward with plans to hand over the management of the sports complex to private institutions, making it inaccessible to regular students. ABVP demanded that the university terminate agreements with private companies and establish a university-run sports cell instead.
Recently, the university had issued an e-tender notice inviting applications from companies and agencies for the management and development of the sports complex and athletic track, tennis court, gymnasium hall, and the Dronacharya Shooting Academy.
However, this announcement was soon withdrawn. Now, the university is preparing to issue a new e-tender notice, which will include facilities like the indoor stadium, athletics, swimming, and shooting academy.
Currently, the university lacks coaches for various sports, and there is no sports director either. Complaints have been raised that many facilities, including synthetic tracks and academies, remain non-functional due to this.
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