Long wait for stadium gets longer

Mumbai University students will have to wait till 2011 for world-class sports infrastructure. HT reports.

Mumbai University students will have to wait till 2011 for world-class sports infrastructure.

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Construction of the 13-acre sports complex at the Kalina Campus began in March 2006. The Rs 25-crore complex was to have been ready by 2008, but got an extension till 2009. Now, a cash crunch and a pending approval for a filtration plant for the Olympic-size (50-metre) swimming pool, has pushed the completion date to 2011, according to the status report provided by the varsity’s public relations office.

Apart from the pool, the complex will include a 10-lane, 400-metre athletics track and a two-storey gymnasium with badminton, table tennis, volleyball, basketball and squash courts.

According to the report, the gymnasium is in the last phase of completion and is awaiting funds for electrical installations and flooring for the badminton court. The final nod for the filtration plant is pending with the Building Works Committee.

The initial project cost of Rs 20 crore needed an infusion of Rs 5.5 crore more, of which Rs 2.5 crore is for the filtration plant alone.

The delay is bad news for members of the swimming and water polo teams.

“Once the university has its own pool, it can conduct endurance camps for the water polo team. Swimmers can practice throughout the year and improve skill and stamina instead of practicing just a month before competitions,” said Shashank Bilankar (25), an MCom student and water polo player.