Sports
In Pictures: Welcome To India's Ugliest Cricket Stadium
- When compared to what the stands look like in Wankhede, Eden Gardens, or the newly built Narendra Modi stadium, in terms of viewing and access, the ones in Kotla warrant an urgent upgrade.
Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Probably, the greatest insult to the former finance minister and one of the political stalwarts of the country is the infrastructure of the stadium named after him.
This was the author's second visit to the stadium inside a year. Few things stand out, explicitly.
During the recent T20 international between South Africa and India, the narrow lane behind the Mohinder Amarnath Stand (East Stand) had a stampede like situation, given the poor security and access arrangements.
Two, the stands are outdated in design.
Even if the DDCA could build this stand again from the scratch, they'd have a decent stadium.
Even the two hill stands, alongside the Old Clubhouse stand, that house the commentators and broadcasters, are outdated in design. Neither do they have the required elevation, nor do they have the park-like arrangements for a sunny day in winters, as is the case with stands in New Zealand and South Africa.
Even the other two stands, housing majority of the crowd, are outdated in design, and are barely functional. Named after the two greats, Bishan Singh Bedi and Mohinder Amarnath, these stands do not offer the best view even with the elevation, thanks to the countless pillars and old building design.
Perhaps, it is time for the DDCA to consider phase-wise redevelopment of the stadium, starting with the Gautam Gambhir stand.
The ones filled with nostalgia argue against modern designs, saying that it robs the venue of its uniqueness and they are partially right. However, going forward, the unique character of any ground, anywhere in India, must be complemented with upgraded infrastructure.
The critics online are not wrong. Maybe this is indeed the ugliest looking cricket stadium in India.
