Date:12/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/12/stories/2008071250690200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

ACA stadium at Mangalagiri soon

Staff Reporter

‘It will be a replica of the Melbourne Cricket Ground’

VIJYAWADA: The construction of Andhra Cricket Association (ACA)’s stadium at Mangalagiri in Guntur district will be completed in less than two years, and once it is ready the association will make efforts to stage a One-Day International match there, according to ACA secretary V. Chamundeswaranath.

Speaking to the media persons here on Friday, Mr. Chamundeswaranath said that the stadium would be completed at a cost of Rs. 15 crores as per the specifications of the Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI). In a manner similar to the VDCA-ACA stadium at Visakhapatnam, as many as 20 corporate boxes would be allotted to various companies. “The State Government has asked us to complete the stadium within three years, but we have assured the Government that it would be done in two years only,” he said.

The ACA secretary indicated that a couple of matches in the next season of Indian Premier League (IPL) were likely to be played at IGMC Stadium in the city and in Visakhapatnam as well.

The Mangalagiri stadium would be a replica of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Australia and after completion it would be able to accommodate around 35,000 spectators. “There is no dearth of funds and I have spoken to BCCI chief Sharad Pawar and he has asked me not to compromise on the quality of the stadium,” he explained.

Mr. Chamundeswaranath said efforts were on to build stadiums in Kadapa, Kurnool, Srikakulam and Prakasam districts. “Twenty acres of land was donated by Sri Bala Sai Baba in Kurnool for a stadium and the work will begin next month for a stadium in Kadapa in the name of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s late father Raja Reddy. We also plan to acquire 15 acres of land in Prakasam district and we have asked the Srikakulam district association to look for land on lease ,” he said.