Vijayawada’s Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium set to undergo international standard renovation worth ₹19 crores

When Vijayawada’s Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium (IGMS) lost the opportunity to host the Maidan Republic Day celebrations, people thought that the ground would once again be left behind. But the administration has rewarded the locals with a major upgrade plan. The IGMS is set to undergo a major renovation program. The BJP government will upgrade the sports infrastructure of the stadium to international standards with funds from Khelo India. The stadium will now consist of state-of-the-art facilities like modern tracks and a football field at a cost of ₹19 crore, BJP Guntur wrote on its X.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh plans multiple sporting infrastructure works at IGMC. These projects include the provisions for floodlights for a 6-lane 200-metre track, a basketball court, and a tennis court. In addition, the government proposes to lay a 400-metre, 8-lane synthetic athletic track along with 25-metre-high floodlights. An artificial grass football field is also under the proposals for the infrastructural developments. The amount for all these projects has been sanctioned, but it hasn’t been released yet.

A review meeting was held in November last year at the Command Control Room of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) headquarters to assess the modernisation works underway at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium, Vidyadharapuram Stadium, and Makineni Basava Punnaiah Stadium. The discussions focused on upgrading these facilities to enable Vijayawada to host national- and international-level sports events.

Officials examined plans related to stadium renovations, the installation of modern infrastructure, enhancement of athlete amenities, and measures to encourage local sports development. It was agreed that all concerned departments would work in close coordination to position Vijayawada as a leading sports hub in the State, while ensuring improved facilities for athletes and residents alike. Addressing the meeting, Mr. Sivanath stated that sports grounds across the city are being upgraded to meet national and international standards, adding that hosting major sporting events would not only strengthen the city’s sporting ecosystem but also contribute to its economic growth.

Andhra Pradesh has received an allocation of ₹60.76 crore from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports under the Khelo India scheme for the development of sports infrastructure across the State. Of the total allocation, ₹14 crore each has been sanctioned for the construction of a multipurpose indoor hall with a hall size of 60 m × 40 m at the NTR Sports Complex in Kuppam, Chittoor district, and for an indoor hall measuring 60 m × 40 m × 12.5 m at Pathrunivalasa in Srikakulam district. In addition, an amount of ₹13.76 crore has been earmarked for the construction of a multipurpose stadium with dimensions of 60 m × 40 m at Arena-2 in V.L. Puram, Rajamahendravaram.