Land acquisition for cricket stadium in Varanasi completed: UP govt

Land acquisition has been completed for proposed international cricket stium in Varanasi that is expected to be rey by end of 2024, Uttar Presh government said in a statement here on Monday.

stium in parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have a seating capacity of 30,000 and will be built at a cost of nearly Rs 350 crore.

land acquisition process got expedited in September 2022. UP Cabinet h approved Rs 120 crore for purchase of land from 31 farmers, statement said.

stium will be operated by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Under a long-term lease agreement, BCCI will assume responsibility for stium's operation and management.

Board will also contribute a fixed annual amount to government in exchange for lease.

"Approximately Rs 350 crore will be spent in construction of this stium, which is being built on a wide campus of about 31 acres," statement said.

stium will have a seating capacity of 30,000 spectators, it ded.

ditional Chief Secretary of Sports and Youth Welfare Navneet Sehgal said that land has been handed over to Uttar Presh Cricket Association (UPCA) by government.

Larsen & Toubro has been me its nodal agency. Currently, finalisation of stium's design is underway. Once design and map are approved, construction will start, he said.

"UP is full of talented cricketers. Renowned players such as Suresh Raina, Kuldeep Yav, leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, fast bowler Praveen Kumar and amazing batsman and fielder Mohamm Kaif are from Uttar Presh. UP's cricketers are doing well in IPL and or league matches.

" stium will help in honing skills of se players along with or talented cricketers. stium will be yet anor step to realise Chief Minister Yogi ityanath's vision of establishing Uttar Presh as a powerhouse in sports," he said.