WATCH: Visakhapatnam’s Swarna Bharti Indoor Stadium re-opened after ₹16.9 crore renovation, opens opportunities for both private and public sectors
Visakhapatnam’s iconic Swarna Bharti Indoor Stadium is back in action after a ₹16.9-crore makeover under the Vizag Smart City project.
Vishakhapatnam’s renowned sports arena, the Swarna Bharti Indoor Stadium, was reopened on Tuesday after the completion of the renovation project under the Vizag Smart City project by Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC). The inauguration event featured Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat, Mayor P. Sreenivasa Rao, MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju, District Collector M.N. Harendra Prasad, and GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg.
Key Upgrades
The renovation of the facility cost ₹16.9 crores and is now equipped with six badminton courts, G.I. sheet roofing, wooden sports flooring, epoxy flooring, internal acoustic wall cladding, glass panelling, ACP elevation cladding, false ceiling, and folding chairs with a seating capacity of 1,750. Additional developments include BT road development around the stadium, line marking, painting, lighting, air conditioning, sports hall lighting, fire safety system,s and CCTV surveillance. According to a report by The Hindu, the previous estimated cost of this makeover was around ₹15 crores.
Swarna Bharati Indoor Stadium Reopens with World-Class Facilities for the People of Visakhapatnam
— Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) (@GVMC_VISAKHA) January 27, 2026
The Swarna Bharati Indoor Stadium, located in GVMC North Zone, Ward No. 24, has been redeveloped with state-of-the-art sports infrastructure and reopened for public use. The… pic.twitter.com/IvI5CAn0gJ
Online booking has been introduced to book slots and ensure easy public access to the facility. M. Sribharat also urged the GMVC chief to promote sports, maintain accessibility, ensure effective management, and also generate revenue.
Redemption for “unhygienic” stadiums?
The city has a couple of indoor stadiums to cater to mass athletes. The Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium and the Port Indoor Stadium have been carrying the load of sports infrastructure in the city for quite some time now. And after the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium was allegedly dubbed unhygienic in the recent India Open 2026 championship, the reopening of the Swarna Bharti Stadium has been a much-needed boost to the country’s sports infrastructure.
How can GVMC make up for the India Open catastrophe?
While there is no proposal to privatise the facility, the GVMC can partner with private firms via the PPP model for operations and effective maintenance. Similar models in Odisha and Karnataka are implemented, where the firms handle daily management in exchange for 60-70% revenue share from bookings, events, and concessions. The model can focus on diversifying income: 40% from sports rentals (badminton slots at per hour basis), 30% corporate events/team building events, 20% fitness classes/training sessions, and 10% on retail via sports gear and nutrition.