Paul Murphy Meets Sri Banchaanidhi Pani to Deepen Australia–Ahmedabad Partnership, Shaping the City’s Sports Infrastructure
India’s sporting renaissance is accelerating with Ahmedabad at its forefront, as the city prepares to host the proposed Commonwealth Games 2030 and strengthens its bid for the 2036 Olympics
Talk about the emerging sports renaissance in India, and the first state to experience the hurricane's eye is the city of Amdavad. Being the host to the Commonwealth 2030, the Gandhinagar-Ahmedabad belt is now expanding its horizons and eyeing the Olympics 2036.
A significant contribution of ₹1331 crore had been sanctioned by the Gujarat government for the development of the Centerpiece city into the next Olympic town, and the accountability was passed on to leading manufacturing brands of Australia like Populous and Cox.Australian Consul General Paul Murphy met with the municipal commissioner Shri Banchhanidhi Pani to discuss the potential to expand the partnership between the two countries on sports infrastructure further.
Australia is contributing to Gujarat’s sports infrastructure, with firms like Populous and Cox Architecture designing major venues in Ahmedabad. I met Municipal Commissioner Pani to explore how Australia can contribute even more to Ahmedabad’s ambition to become a sporting city. pic.twitter.com/zcCKc8IjIh
— Australian Consulate General, Mumbai (@AusCG_Mumbai) March 31, 2026
Notable contributions of the Australian brand
The Australian architectural firm Populous had been given the charge to design our queen in this game of chess. It is none other than the ambitious project of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Enclave. While Populous caters to the architectural and management requirements of the facility, Cox is responsible for complementing the approach in design and planning.Populous is the one that gave us our very own 132000-seater Narendra Modi Stadium.
Anchored to this project is the vision of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel complex being catered to with complementing complexes like a 10,000-seat tennis court, an aquatics center with 12,000-seat capacity, and an indoor arena with 12,000 seats.The Australian brands have highlighted their vision for the project to be centered around climate responsiveness, integration with nature, architecture that is modern yet authentic, and a sustainable legacy for the city.
“The strategic master plan takes into account the long-term development of the city, ensuring the optimal utilization of existing or temporary infrastructure.Transport, accommodation, security, media services, and other supporting facilities will also be key considerations in the plan, enhancing the overall experience for athletes, spectators, officials, and visitors," says the senior UDD official of Populous.
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