HUBBALLI: The pavilion at Nehru Stadium in Hubballi, an integral part of the 62-year-old structure since its inception, is being demolished to make way for a new structure that will house a VIP lounge, coaching area, gymnasium, a gymnastic arena among other facilities. The pavilion is likely to be razed entirely in a few weeks.
Spread across 6.4 acres, Nehru Stadium was built on what was formerly Gulkawwana Kere, and in the past six decades, it has been the venue for numerous matches of the Ranji Trophy. Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Mohammad Azharuddin and Anil Kumble are among the illustrious names in Indian cricket who have played on the ground. On the other hand, Nehru Stadium has also served, by dint of its location at the heart of Hubballi, as the venue for several political rallies. Former Prime Ministers VP Singh, Manmohan Singh, former chief minister Ramakrishna Hegde and former deputy PM LK Advani, to name a few, have addressed rallies at Nehru Stadium.
Senior politician Pandurang Patil said that its central location made it convenient for hosting political rallies and gatherings.
In addition to the pavilion, a spectators’ gallery and a complex for shops are the only structures that have been added to the Nehru Stadium since its inauguration in 1958.
Former convener for Karnataka State Cricket Association’s Dharwad zone Baba Bhusad remembered playing on the ground as part of Karnataka Finance Minister’s XI against Maharashtra Finance Minister’s XI in 1968, when the stadium was a decade old. “Our team was captained by former Test cricketer V Subramanyam, while the Maharashtra side was led by former India skipper Ajit Wadekar,” said Bhusad, attributing the stadium’s present condition to a combination of negligence and decreasing sporting activity.
Hubballi-Dharwad Smart City Ltd special officer SH Naregal said that a sum of Rs 20.3 crore had been allocated for the refurbishment of Nehru Stadium.