Panoramic view of the cricket ground situated in the heart of the city is a boon to sports lovers of the satellite city. Work on removing grass is undertaken in full swing by the NMMC to make it ready before the Diwali vacation. Sanpada is a sporting centre and there is sufficient space to build a sports Stadium in Sector 9 of the satellite city. It is time to have a stadium in the heart of Sanpada opposite Millennium Towers. The game of cricket has assumed greater importance after IPL matches being played at the DY Patil Cricket Ground. In recent times it is heartening to note that Ulwe got a swanky sports complex last year. We need International standard sports stadium to give our youngsters all the exposure they need. Such a stadium should be properly maintained by a responsible person having sports background. Catch them young is true for all the sports in general and the game of cricket in particular. NMMC is doing yeomen service in promoting sports in civic schools and achieved its goal in recent times. At this point of time we do not have a proper cricket ground in the satellite city. Further, we find civic schools formed their own teams and playing successfully thanks to NMMC. Funds are available in plenty and it is time to make use of the same in promoting sports in the best way possible. As there is lot of interest in field games like cricket, NMMC should come forward to maintain cricket pitches in big play grounds like the one in Sector 8 Sanpada (Opp Gokool Hotel) and provide net facility to coaches for running camps during Diwali vacation. This will help wards to play within the satellite city and there is no need to go out of Navi Mumbai to get the much needed practice throughout the year. A budget of over 120 crores is a big money and NMMC should spend it in an useful way for sports promotion. Athlete tracks, a gymnasium and basket/volleyball/Tennis courts are the need of the hour. A spacious sports stadium at Sector 8 Sanpada can solve the problems of the sports loving citizens of Vashi, Sanpada and Nerul. It is time to explore the sporting talent of students and NMMC must discover and explore their talents. At a time when both the Government and civic body is talking about churning out talent for mega sports events, let us make the funds available for development of sporting activities in the satellite city.
Anandambal Subbu
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
