9crore sports centre in the offing

Chennai: To promote grassroots sports development in north Chennai, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is set to build a sports centre in Moolakothalam, Royapuram, at a cost of 9 crore.

Spanning 0.35 acres, the proposed sports centre, with a total built-up area of 1,557 sqm, will feature a stilt plus two-floor design. It aims to serve as a hub for a variety of indoor and outdoor sports, with world-class training facilities. The facility will be opened within six months once the work order is issued.

According to CMDA officials, the facility will include an outdoor cricket and football turf, as suggested by authorities. "A pavilion with seating gallery for spectators, a multi-purpose indoor sports hall suitable for shuttle badminton, table tennis, and other indoor games and cricket practice nets will be part of the amenties," explained an official.

Residents and sports enthusiasts have welcomed the move, calling it a long-overdue step towards inclusive sports development in one of Chennai's oldest localities.

"Robinson park ground and St Peters Ground are places that have nurtured basketball and football players. The locality has seen many eminent boxers too. But now the area doesn't have a good training facility," said A V S Marimuthu, co-convenor of North Chennai People Rights Federation.

However residents want the government to maintain the facility properly. "A private company can handle the maintenance. The government should fix a nominal training fee for the youngsters. There should be ample parking space too," added R Boopalan, a civic activist.