Sardar Patel Stadium to be modernised: Amit Shah

Design and options available for modernisation of the stadium is almost ready but because of the Assembly polls in Maharashtra and Haryana, it got delayed

The Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera in Ahmedabad would be renovated and converted into a modern, state-of-the-art stadium with the highest seating capacity, said Amit Shah, president, Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) on Friday.

"The Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera would be renovated and made into a modern stadium," said Shah, who is also the national president of BJP.

Shah, who is an MLA from Naranpura constituency in Ahmedabad, said this during his address after the inauguration of the Gujarat College Cricket Ground at Ellis bridge. The Gujarat College Cricket Ground is managed by the GCA and has been renovated at the cost of Rs 5-6 crore.

"The design and options available for modernisation of the stadium is almost ready but because of the elections (upcoming Assembly polls in Maharashtra and Haryana), it got delayed," Shah added.

"We will now take the project into consideration and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also promised their support for the project," said Shah, who was responsible for BJP's turnaround in Uttar Pradesh in the parliamentary elections.

Shah further said that the stadium would be among the world's modern stadiums and would also have maximum seating capacity.

"The Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera would be among the world's modern stadiums and would also have the largest seating capacity," said Shah.

The seating capacity of the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera is around 40,000-45,000 and it is expected, after renovation, the seating capacity would increase to 90,000. Eden Gardens in Kolkata, which boasts of the highest seating capacity in the country, can accommodate close to 90,000 people.

Shah replaced Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on a visit to the United States of America (USA), as president of GCA in June 2014, after the latter resigned from his post following his victorious general election campaign.

There are 32 members in the body of GCA.

Modi had taken over the reigns of GCA by replacing the then Congress leader Narhari Amin on September 15, 2009. Amin later joined the saffron party.