Sports infrastructure in Ahmedabad under scrutiny amid Commonwealth Games 2030 preparations

Ahmedabad, the city slated to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030, is paradoxically plagued by the maintenance issues with its sports complexes.

​The Shahpur sports complex, developed to encourage sports and physical activity among youth, is currently being used for feeding birds and not for the purpose it was constructed.

In Navranpura, Sardar Patel Stadium and the old Vadaj skating rink are also facing the same issue of poor maintenance. 

​After Ahmedabad was announced as the organizing city of Commonwealth Games 2030, several tenders worth crores are getting passed for sports infrastructure in the city.

However, the Shahpur sports complex on Riverfront East is being used for feeding grains to birds. An expenditure of ₹1 crore on the development of the old Vadaj skating rink 15 years ago, however, no visible improvement has been observed to date, alleges critics.

The work of redevelopment project at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Navrangpura, a ₹75 crore undertaking, is also moving at a snail’s pace. 

As city is preparing for Commonwealth Games 2030 and aims to host the Olympics 2036, the state of its sports infrastructure has raised serious questions on the readiness for the global events.