Nehru Stadium's Poor Construction Quality Exposed
SMART CITIES

Nehru Stadium's Poor Construction Quality Exposed

The poor quality of construction work at Nehru Stadium, executed as part of the Smart City initiative, has been exposed. The perimeter walkway, designed for fitness enthusiasts' morning and evening exercises, is damaged. The subpar workmanship has led to weeds growing, loosened pavers, and hazardous dips in the walking track. 

The Hubballi-Dharwad Smart City Limited (HDSCL) spent over Rs 210 million through the Smart City Project for the stadium's renovation and enhancement with various facilities.

The redevelopment commenced in July 2020, after sporting activities were halted in late 2019, and took three years to complete. Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a virtual inauguration of the upgraded stadium in March 2023. However, the facility remains non-operational since its inauguration due to unresolved handover matters between HDSCL and the HDMC. 

Based on the sources within HDMC, after finalising the official handover process, HDSCL provided Rs 1.8 crore to HDMC for maintenance and other requirements. HDSCL specified that the stadium should be strictly used for sporting activities, with no vehicular entry permitted. 

However, HDMC utilises the grounds for various non-sporting events, including cracker sales during deepavali and Ganesha festivals as well as political gatherings, alongside sports activities. Despite completing the handover process, HDMC officials have not made the indoor gaming facilities accessible to the public. 

When approached, Basavaraj Dharmante, DGM of HDSCL, confirmed that HDMC is now responsible for maintenance and repairs of the stadium. He stated that operations and maintenance funds of Rs 1.8 crore were transferred to HDMC for repairs and other works at the Nehru Stadium. 

Union minister Pralhad Joshi stated that dedicated meetings would be organised to review issues concerning substandard construction works and other matters under smart city projects. "It is the duty of HDMC to check all works under Smart City Projects. If any small repairs and others are there, they should get them done from HDSCL and maintain them properly," he added. 

James, 65, who lives on Karwar Road, mentioned that he frequents Nehru Stadium twice daily for walks. "It is very difficult to walk briskly on uneven pavers. In most places in the stadium, the pavers are damaged. In some places, they have turned into hazardous dips, and grass has grown between these pavers," he explained.

The poor quality of construction work at Nehru Stadium, executed as part of the Smart City initiative, has been exposed. The perimeter walkway, designed for fitness enthusiasts' morning and evening exercises, is damaged. The subpar workmanship has led to weeds growing, loosened pavers, and hazardous dips in the walking track. The Hubballi-Dharwad Smart City Limited (HDSCL) spent over Rs 210 million through the Smart City Project for the stadium's renovation and enhancement with various facilities.The redevelopment commenced in July 2020, after sporting activities were halted in late 2019, and took three years to complete. Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a virtual inauguration of the upgraded stadium in March 2023. However, the facility remains non-operational since its inauguration due to unresolved handover matters between HDSCL and the HDMC. Based on the sources within HDMC, after finalising the official handover process, HDSCL provided Rs 1.8 crore to HDMC for maintenance and other requirements. HDSCL specified that the stadium should be strictly used for sporting activities, with no vehicular entry permitted. However, HDMC utilises the grounds for various non-sporting events, including cracker sales during deepavali and Ganesha festivals as well as political gatherings, alongside sports activities. Despite completing the handover process, HDMC officials have not made the indoor gaming facilities accessible to the public. When approached, Basavaraj Dharmante, DGM of HDSCL, confirmed that HDMC is now responsible for maintenance and repairs of the stadium. He stated that operations and maintenance funds of Rs 1.8 crore were transferred to HDMC for repairs and other works at the Nehru Stadium. Union minister Pralhad Joshi stated that dedicated meetings would be organised to review issues concerning substandard construction works and other matters under smart city projects. It is the duty of HDMC to check all works under Smart City Projects. If any small repairs and others are there, they should get them done from HDSCL and maintain them properly, he added. James, 65, who lives on Karwar Road, mentioned that he frequents Nehru Stadium twice daily for walks. It is very difficult to walk briskly on uneven pavers. In most places in the stadium, the pavers are damaged. In some places, they have turned into hazardous dips, and grass has grown between these pavers, he explained.

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Tata, Airbus to Build India’s First Private Helicopter Line

In a landmark development for India’s aerospace sector, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus will establish the country’s first private-sector helicopter assembly line in Vemagal, Karnataka. The facility will manufacture the Airbus H125 and H125M, marking a significant milestone in India’s push for self-reliance in aviation and defence manufacturing. The new Final Assembly Line (FAL) will produce the H125, the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter, known for its versatility and performance in extreme environments. The first ‘Made in India’ H125 is expected to ro..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

NeGD to Support Bharat Taxi in Building Cooperative Ride Platform

In a significant move for India’s digital and mobility transformation, the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Digital India Corporation, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has entered into an advisory partnership with Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, the company behind Bharat Taxi — a first-of-its-kind, cooperative-led national ride-hailing platform. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between NeGD and Sahakar Taxi to provide strategic advisory and technical support covering key areas such as platform integration, cybersecurity..

Next Story
Technology

MeitY Hosts Pre-Summit for India–AI Impact Summit 2026

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, hosted a series of Pre-Summit events for the upcoming India–AI Impact Summit 2026 at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi. These sessions mark a key milestone ahead of the main summit, scheduled for 19–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Delivering the inaugural address, S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, highlighted India’s innovative and frugal approach to AI development. “We have adopted innovative means by learning from others’ experiences to build projects and products that..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?