The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) had objected to the civic body’s proposed plan to merge Kalagram and Garware cricket ground for building an international cricket stadium in the city.
Situated in the industrial area of Chikalthana, Kalagram was developed as an art and craft complex on the lines of Dilli Haat in New Delhi. A regional MTDC official said the top brass has been apprised of the plan charted out by the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation (CSMC).
“The land on which Kalagram is situated was handed over to us by the MIDC through the local civic body. The facility was envisaged as a mean to boost local tourism. Using it for cricketing purposes makes no sense,” the official said.
Regional authorities said they could not raise their voice against the CSMC’s plan during the recent meeting in which it was decided that the existing Garware cricket ground would be turned into a world-class cricket stadium by taking over the Kalagram land.
The corporation has directed its private operator M/s Garuda Amusement Park (Nagpur) Pvt Ltd to stop works with immediate effect till further orders. MTDC had appointed operator to develop tourism project on design, build, finance, operate and transfer basis. The government had recently revised reservation of 42.85 acres land from Ambazari garden to tourism development project.
The CSMC on June 20 had announced the plan of developing an international stadium by saying that the necessary communication would be established with the town planning department. “The civic administrator has been asked to prepare a master plan for the international stadium. Once it is ready, BCCI secretary Jay Shah will be contacted,” an official release said. The Aurangabad Tourism Development Foundation (ATDF), umbrella body of different stakeholders from the local tourism and hospitality industry, has supported this move.
“The MTDC, so far, has proved incompetent in ensuring effective running and upkeep of Kalagram. It will be an ideal move to turn the facility into an international facility before it turns to complete shambles,” ATDF founder president Jaswant Singh said.
