With the countdown to the ICC Men's ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 having well and truly begin, it is now being reported that Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium will undergo a massive renovation ahead of the marquee event. It is pertinent to note that despite being one of the oldest cricket venues in the country, the cricketing facility has previously been criticised for basic things like proper hygeine. The entire renovation project could cost INR 20 to 25 crore but will see addition of a number of facilities at the venue.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) apparently had a gap assessment in the month of April during which they identified Delhi as one of the venues which had a lot of scope for improvement. The other venues which fall in this category are Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Mohali. Barring Mohali, the other four venues will be hosting World Cup matches and thus their renivation work would have to be completed much before the World Cup kicks off on October 5.
The Indian cricket board also indentified that even though the sport enjoys immense popularity in the country and even the board is recognised as one of the wealthiest in the world, the infrastructue in stadiums remains inadequate in comparison to that imagery. Hence, proper steps will be taken before the world event. The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi will host as many as five matches during the World Cup in India.
The renovation work which will happen here include the replacement of around 10,000 spectator seats, renovated washrooms, modifications in the software used for ticketing purposes. In addition, there will also be emphasis on improved paintwork in the stadium premises. The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has set a September 15 deadline for themselves.
"We thank the BCCI for awarding us five games. We need to improve the stadium infrastructure to make it a pleasant experience for the fans and will be focussed on that ahead of the mega event. We have planned a substantial upgrade in the facilities which will include changing of spectator seats, renovated washrooms, paint work and change in our ticketing software," Rajan Manchanda, joint secretary of the DDCA told PTI.