Is Cuttack’s Barabati Stadium Redevelopment Plan On Track? Check Sports Minister Reply In Odisha Assembly

Bhubaneswar: Is the redevelopment plan for Barabati Stadium, an important landmark in Odisha’s Cuttack city, to transform it to a world-class sports complex on track?

Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryavandhi Suraj told the Assembly that no step has been taken to upgrade the stadium, which is scheduled to host the second ODI match between India and England on February 9, 2025.

“Barabati Stadium is managed of Odisha Cricket Association OCA). The department has not taken any step for upgrading or redeveloping the stadium, including specific infrastructure improvements and modern amenities,” the minister said while replying to query by Barabati-Cuttack MLA Sofia Firdous.

Besides update on the redevelopment plan, the MLA had also sought details of the timeline and estimated budget of the project.

Later speaking to the media, Cuttack Mayor Subhash Singh termed the Minister’s statement, ‘outrightly rejecting any plans to redevelop the stadium’, as unfortunate. “We had sought nabakalebara (redevelopment) of the stadium in 2022 and accordingly a plan was prepared after taking the consent of Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI). The foundation stone for the project was also laid by the then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on February 27,” he said.

The Mayor urged the state government to reconsider its decision and start work on the project.

In February, OCA secretary of the association Sanjay Behera informed that the redevelopment plan pegged in the range of Rs 600 crore to Rs 700 crore was to implemented in partnership with BCCI, OCA and corporates.

The stadium was to be demolished to make way for a bigger cricket stadium with a seating capacity of 60,000 people from the present 42,000. The previous BJD government had also approved a vision document, factoring in requirement for the next 50 years. The access to the stadium, parking, galleries and facilities like food courts and washrooms were also to be developed as part of the project. The campus was to have facilities for other sports disciplines too. There was also a plan to develop the area adjacent to the stadium for a retail mall along with a five-star hotel and offices spaces. The area in front of the stadium was to be designed as a public plaza.

At the same time, considering the legacy of the stadium, the iconic clock tower was to be conserved as a heritage structure.