New Delhi
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has started the process of constructing Delhi’s biggest integrated multi-sport stadium complex in Narela, which will include an 80,000-seater cricket stadium and other Olympic and non-Olympic sports, officials familiar with the developments said. The authority has invited bids and is exploring private sector participation for design, construction, operation and maintenance, officials aware of the matter said on Wednesday.
The planned stadium will be spread across 75 acres in sectors G3 and G4 of the Narela subcity, and include a cricket stadium with a seating capacity of 80,000, which will exceed the capacity of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium by a third.
Officials said a consultant would be selected through bidding, for which the base price is set at ₹36 crore. The selected consultant for project will then pay ₹19.4 crore as upfront licensing fee.
“The proposed integrated sports complex in Narela is being planned as a large multi-disciplinary facility that can host major sporting events, concerts, events and also provide training and recreational infrastructure,” an official, who did not wish to be named, said.
Government officials said that the project has been planned in Narela to move traffic away from central parts of the Capital, to reduce congestion during key sporting events.
Officials said the project is part of broader efforts to strengthen sports infrastructure in Delhi and promote organised sporting activities at professional and community levels.
The proposed location is situated close to Holambi village, with access to major road corridors of National Highway 1 and the Urban Extension Road II (UER II). Authorities said the connectivity through these routes is expected to ensure smoother access from different parts of Delhi, as well as from the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Facilities in focus
Officials said the stadium complex will include both spectator-oriented infrastructure and training facilities for athletes. Apart from the main cricket stadium, the proposed layout includes infrastructure for multiple sports disciplines, such as football, tennis, basketball and other Olympic and non-Olympic sports.
Indoor facilities planned within the complex include badminton courts, squash courts, table tennis halls, wrestling and boxing arenas, gymnasium areas and multipurpose halls for training and competitions. Outdoor infrastructure is expected to include football and cricket grounds, tennis courts, basketball and volleyball courts, jogging tracks and swimming facilities, according to project plans.
The design also incorporates support infrastructure, such as administrative spaces, athlete amenities, spectator facilities and landscaped public areas. Officials said the project is being conceptualised as an integrated sports hub rather than a single-venue stadium. The project is also expected to include auxiliary facilities, such as parking areas, food courts, landscaped parks and internal circulation networks to facilitate the movement of athletes, visitors and staff within the campus.
The proposal mentions that while about 35% of the area will be used for sports facilities, around 65% can be used for developing commercial facilities, such as retail hotel and office commercial space.
“The idea is to develop a comprehensive sports ecosystem that includes competition venues, training infrastructure and supporting amenities within one integrated complex,” the official said.
According to officials, the authority is planning the development under a model that may involve private sector participation through a long-term licence arrangement. Developers with experience in building and operating sports infrastructure have been invited to participate in the bidding process. Authorities said the final selection will be based on technical and financial criteria specified in the request for proposal documents.
“The selected concessionaire will be responsible for designing, constructing and operating the integrated sports complex as per the terms laid out in the concession agreement,” the official said.
The Narela project
The multi-sport infrastructure project can also be viewed as part of wider development initiatives planned in Narela. Over the past few years, the area has been earmarked for several urban infrastructure projects, including residential developments, institutional zones, education hubs and transport connectivity upgrades.
Officials said the development of large sports infrastructure in the area is expected to complement these plans and contribute to the overall growth of the subcity.
“Narela is emerging as an important growth corridor in outer Delhi and the sports complex will add to the area’s infrastructure by creating facilities for national and international sporting events,” the official said.
Authorities also noted that the scale of the complex would allow it to host large sporting events and training programmes for athletes from across the country. “The size of the site and the range of facilities proposed will enable the complex to accommodate multiple sporting disciplines and large spectator events,” the official said.
While the bidding and planning process is currently underway, officials said timelines for construction and completion will be finalised after the selection of a development partner and approval of the final design plans.
The project is among several initiatives, undertaken by the DDA to expand sports infrastructure in the capital and develop integrated facilities capable of hosting large-scale events and supporting professional sports training. Delhi has two world class golf courses and 17 sports complexes built and run by DDA.