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Adding value and fame
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The two astro-turfs coming up within walking distance at the Swarnandhra Sports Complex in Gachhibowli would put Hyderabad in a prestigious position which other cities can only dream of, writes V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM.
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The astro-turfs at Gachibowli add another feather to the city's cap. — Photos: Mohd. Yousuf
BY ALL means, there will be a new dimension to the Swarnandhra Sports Complex in Gachibowli once the two new hockey venues near completion. For, a locale which has changed the destiny of even the nearby areas after being dotted with a world class athletics stadium, a truly magnificent indoor stadium, an international standard swimming complex and a shooting range in the vicinity, hockey stadia are bound to enhance the value and reputation of the sports complex itself.
And, the hockey lovers of the twin cities should thank the State Government for hosting the inaugural edition of the Afro-Asian Games to be held here from October 24 to November 1. For, by acquiring 13 acres of land from the Central University authorities, the Government had decided to comply with the International Hockey Federation guidelines of having two astro-turfs within walking distance if a city were to host any international event. Thus, effectively, in addition to the existing astro-turf at Begumpet Police Stadium, Hyderabad will now have three turfs, a privilege which other cities in India can only dream of.
The hectic pace of work on the sprawling venue is a clear indicator that everything will fall in place by the time the games begin. C. Muralidhar, Planning Engineer of Larsen & Toubro Ltd, which is executing the Rs. 14.83 crore project, points out that there will be two astro-turfs of 101 m x 64 m dimensions each besides a practice turf admeasuring 50 m x 25 m. "Essentially, we are simply trying to meet the specifications of the I.H.F. and we are in constant touch with people who know the sport to ensure that there is no compromise on quality," he explains.
Work at the site is in full swing.
The L&T has been given a 70-day work schedule by the Government. The deadline for completion of the project is October 16 when the venue should be ready for normal practice sessions. Explaining the salient features of the venture, Muralidhar says that one venue will be floodlit with four high-mast towers taking care of the need. Initially, there will be one gallery each at both the grounds with a capacity of 500 spectators. The pavilion block which separates the two grounds will be a double-storeyed building. The best part of the design can be the inter-connecting bridge between the two grounds to ensure an obstruction-free passage, says the engineer in charge of the project.
Ever since the grand infrastructure has been set up for the 32nd National Games, water has become a major source of embarrassment, and acute shortage has, in fact, hit the swimming pool badly before remedial measures were taken up. With that experience in mind, Muralidhar points out that a separate filtration (softening) plant is being set up exclusively for hockey venues to purify the groundwater before being put to use for watering and cleaning the turfs. A quality sprinkler system will be in force expectedly.
As things stand, it seems certain that L&T will complete the job on schedule for a 3,500-strong labour force is at work round-the-clock at the venue with 50 engineering staff monitoring every minute detail in construction. In an apparent bid to give the entire venue a pleasing look, adequate space has been earmarked for landscaping with a provision for one km of internal roads.
Interestingly, the Government had entered into an agreement on defect-liability period which extends to two years as against the normal one year which generally L&T has for other ventures. This is seen as bid to keep the option of falling back on the builders in case of any exigency in terms of maintenance. On problems being faced by the firm, Koteshwara Rao of Stup Consultants says that they are forced to remove the 1.5 m layer of black soil on the entire stretch before commencing any work.
For the record, the two astro-turfs are being imported from the United States and are expected to reach the city by the second week of this month. Well, the best part of the two venues is believed to be the design of having one of them at an elevation of 2.5 m to give a more impressive look to the fans by a mere glance as they approach the venue. What more can the hockey lovers ask for, gentlemen?
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