New guidelines issued for box cricket, net-covered sports in Ahmedabad

After a box cricket structure collapsed in Surat due to heavy rain and strong winds, the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has prepared a draft policy for box cricket and net-covered sports activities. 

Under the new policy, a one-time license fee will be charged for cricket boxes and net-covered sports activities like pickleball. Permissions will only be granted for plots located on roads that are at least 12 m wide.

For existing cricket boxes that were approved earlier, applicants must apply within 30 days of the issuance of the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure), and pay a fee of ₹100 per sq m.

For cricket boxes and net-covered sports activities operating without prior approval, the fee will be ₹200 per sq m. A proposed 5% increase in the license fee every three years has also been suggested.

Operators will also be responsible for strict traffic management around the plot and for providing security guards. The municipal commissioner will have the authority to cancel licenses if there are safety or security concerns.

Rules for box cricket under new policy–

• Permission will only be granted for plots with an area of more than 500 sq m.
• The maximum height allowed for cricket box or net-covered structures is 12 m.
• A minimum 6-m margin from the roadside and 3-m side margins must be maintained.
• Adequate open space around all structures must be maintained.
• At least 50% of the total plot area must be allocated for parking.
• The boundary of the plot must be enclosed with barricades (metal sheets) at least 3 m high.
• Each side of the net-covered structure must have one entry and one exit point.
• CCTV cameras must be installed as per the suggestions of the police department

Currently, open plots near S G Highway and S P Ring Road are being cordoned off with iron nets and converted into cricket boxes, where people pay fees up to ₹2,000 to play. There were no specific regulations in place for these setups.