Karnataka to Establish Major Sports Complex in Bommasandra

New Sports Complex Approved by Karnataka CM

Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has given the green light for a significant initiative by the Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) to construct a state-of-the-art sports complex in Surya City, Bommasandra. This ambitious project will include an 80,000-seat cricket stadium, which will rank as the second-largest in India, following Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium that accommodates 132,000 spectators, according to a report from Economic Times. The total investment for this project is estimated at Rs 1,650 crore, and it will be entirely financed by the KHB without any financial backing from the state government. Spanning across 100 acres, the complex will offer facilities for eight indoor and eight outdoor sports, along with gyms, training centers, swimming pools, hostels, hotels, guest houses, and a convention hall designed for international events.

Response to Chinnaswamy Stadium Incident

This proposal follows the tragic incident on June 4, when a stampede occurred outside Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during the IPL 2025 victory celebrations of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, resulting in 11 fatalities and numerous injuries. The Justice John Michael Cunha Commission determined that the 32,000-seat stadium, located on 17 acres, was inadequate for large-scale events and recommended relocating such events to larger venues with improved infrastructure. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah indicated that the government would contemplate moving significant cricket matches to more spacious locations.

He expressed, "This incident is heartbreaking, but the administration did not err. Legal measures have been initiated against those responsible. Such occurrences should never transpire under any government."

The Chief Minister also confirmed the suspension of five police officers due to negligence, along with the replacement of the state intelligence chief and his political secretary. "The matter has been taken seriously, and suitable actions have been implemented," Siddaramaiah stated.

Additional Sports Infrastructure Developments in Bengaluru

In addition to the Surya City sports complex, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has issued tenders for the construction of a modern stadium in the Dr. K. Shivaram Karanth Layout in the northern part of the city. Furthermore, the Greater Bengaluru Development Authority (GBDA) is working on plans for a sports city in Bidadi. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has proposed that this facility should be equipped to host the Olympic Games.