PCB offered 25 acres near Isamabad’s D-12 for cricket stadium

[daytrader]

PCB offered 25 acres near Isamabad’s D-12 for cricket stadium

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has offered 25 acres to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the construction of a cricket stadium in Islamabad.

Recently, the CDA approached the PCB with the offer of 25 acres near D-12.

“I have spoken to PCB high-ups a few days ago and informed them that CDA has earmarked 25 acres for the project. Next week, CDA and PCB are going to hold a meeting on it,” CDA Chairman Noorul Amin Mengal told Dawn on Sunday. He said the CDA had 150 acres near D-12 and Shah Allah Ditta which will be utilised for promotion of sports.

“Out of the total, 25 acres will be given to the PCB for the cricket stadium and we will develop other sports facilities on the remaining land,” he said and added that the cricket stadium in the foothills of Margallas will add to the beauty of Islamabad. The facility will also be used for international cricket matches.

Asked about possible backlash from environment activists as the area falls in Zone III, the CDA chairman said he had been told that the area was outside of Zone III, adding even if it falls in the said zone, the civic agency could use it for sports facilities like the ones already constructed near Aabpara such as the sports complex. That area also falls in Zone III.

“There is no bar on having sports and recreational facilities in Zone III and even we have hiking tracks in Margalla Hills. But I will check the issue again,” he said.

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1750155/pcb-offered-25-acres-near-d-12-for-cricket-stadium

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

PCB offered 25 acres near Isamabad’s D-12 for cricket stadium

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has offered 25 acres to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the construction of a cricket stadium in Islamabad.

Recently, the CDA approached the PCB with the offer of 25 acres near D-12.

“I have spoken to PCB high-ups a few days ago and informed them that CDA has earmarked 25 acres for the project. Next week, CDA and PCB are going to hold a meeting on it,” CDA Chairman Noorul Amin Mengal told Dawn on Sunday. He said the CDA had 150 acres near D-12 and Shah Allah Ditta which will be utilised for promotion of sports.

“Out of the total, 25 acres will be given to the PCB for the cricket stadium and we will develop other sports facilities on the remaining land,” he said and added that the cricket stadium in the foothills of Margallas will add to the beauty of Islamabad. The facility will also be used for international cricket matches.

Asked about possible backlash from environment activists as the area falls in Zone III, the CDA chairman said he had been told that the area was outside of Zone III, adding even if it falls in the said zone, the civic agency could use it for sports facilities like the ones already constructed near Aabpara such as the sports complex. That area also falls in Zone III.

“There is no bar on having sports and recreational facilities in Zone III and even we have hiking tracks in Margalla Hills. But I will check the issue again,” he said.

...
https://www.dawn.com/news/1750155/pcb-offered-25-acres-near-d-12-for-cricket-stadium

Should never happen on green land.

At best, they should create green area outside Islamabad over 10 years including a stadium.

No building in Pakistan should ever come up without mandatory net positive green cover.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

You have a stadium in Pindi already that uses shaadi chairs for spectators in some of the stands.

Instead of wasting money trying to build another rubbish half complete stadium, why not look to renovate Pindi stadium? Are the people in Pakistan really this dumb?

 

[WicketLord]

The Capital Development Authority(CDA)’s proposed cricket stadium project is likely to hit snags as the federal government has directed the civic agency not to engage Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the project.

Recently, the CDA and PCB prepared a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) for jointly executing the project in the foothills of Margallas near D-12. Under the proposed agreement, construction of the stadium and its operation and maintenance would be the responsibility of the PCB while the CDA would provide 280 kanals for it.

It was also proposed that the PCB will get 70pc of the revenue and the remaining would go to the CDA. However, sources said last week at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the CDA was directed not to execute the MoU and construct the stadium from its own funding.

The civic agency was also directed to hire the services of local or international consultant firms for the project. The sources said after the development, the proposed project was likely to face a setback. They said CDA had no expertise for the construction of a stadium. Secondly, the civic agency could face funding issues as well as billions of rupees were required for the project.


Govt asks CDA not to go for joint venture with PCB and establish stadium with own funds, says official

Similarly, an official said the construction and operation of an international cricket stadium was not a suitable job for the CDA as it was supposed to provide infrastructure like roads and streets and other basic civic facilities to citizens.

“I have no idea how we will manage such a big project,’” said an official. He said the CDA in the past even had failed to maintain its own small cricket grounds developed in various sectors which remained in illegal occupation of various individuals for years. However, a couple of years ago, after a court battle the CDA got the grounds vacated from individuals but still some private people have their influence on some of the grounds, said the official said.

During the last three months, PCB and CDA held several meetings on the project and the former was willing to construct the stadium. The CDA official said there was a need to plead the case with the interim government, requesting it to allow the CDA to get help of the PCB otherwise it will not be able to arrange billions of rupees for the project.

Despite repeated attempts, CDA Chairman Noorul Amin Mengal could not be reached for comments on Sunday.

However, an officer of the CDA said that the civic agency had the potential to execute the project without the support of PCB. He, however, said the CDA will hire a consultant and in the light of his recommendation will move forward.

Recently, PCB and CDA officials at a meeting had decided that the proposed stadium will be the largest in the country with over 50,000 seating capacity. It was also agreed that PCB will complete the construction work within five years.

In the past too, CDA and PCB had joined hands for the construction of a cricket stadium in Shakarparian. However, Supreme Court scrapped the project as it was being executed in a protected area. This time round, the CDA has chosen a site in the foothills of Margallas near D-12 in Zone-111 where it says sports and recreational facilities could be developed.

Courtesy : Dawn

 

[BouncerGuy]

Islamabad’s first cricket stadium moves closer to groundbreaking

If all goes as planned, construction of the first-ever cricket stadium in Islamabad will begin soon, as stakeholders on Wednesday deliberated on the proposed design of the project.

During a meeting headed by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, CDA officials and consultants presented the concept design of the stadium. The facility will be constructed in the foothills of the Margallas near Sector D-12.

The meeting decided that the new stadium will have an open view of the Margallas and a seating capacity of around 32,000. It was also decided that a large parking facility with space for 10,000 cars will be developed around one kilometre away from the stadium for the general public.

It is relevant to note here that the CDA and PCB wanted to replicate the Dubai Cricket Stadium model in this project. The PC-1 worth Rs12 billion had already been approved by the CDA recently. Sources said that after the revision of the concept design, the cost of the proposed project is now estimated at Rs8 billion.

Sources added that another meeting will be held next week, after which the CDA will be given the go-ahead to move forward with the tendering process. They said that once started, the entire project could be completed in two years.

It is worth mentioning that the Rawalpindi Stadium is currently the only facility for hosting international matches in the twin cities.

However, residents of Rawalpindi and adjoining areas face severe traffic congestion and other issues during matches.

“Since the Rawalpindi Stadium is located in the heart of the city, whenever matches are held, residents suffer because of road blockades, route closures and other security arrangements,” said Furqan Hussain, a resident of Rawalpindi.

He said that even traders on Murree Road at Faizabad and Shamsabad face huge financial losses because of the forced closure of their businesses during international match days.

“Construction of a new stadium in Islamabad is a good step. I don’t know if the area near D-12 is ideal or not, but I would advise the interior minister and his team to thoroughly check if the selected site is suitable. This is the right time to make a wise decision, otherwise, generations will suffer in the name of routes and team security,” he said.

According to CDA officials, the proposed stadium will be a joint venture between the CDA and PCB. The new agreement is yet to be signed.

However, according to initial discussions between the two organisations last year, it was proposed that the PCB would complete the construction of the stadium within five years.

It was also decided that the CDA would allot 280 kanals of land for the project on a 99-year lease. Revenue generated from the facility would be divided between the PCB and CDA in a 70:30 ratio.

The two organisations had previously launched a project for a stadium in Shakarparian, but it was scrapped by the Supreme Court. In 1960, a Greek firm, Doxiadis Associates, prepared Islamabad’s master plan and designated 2,250 acres in Shakarparian as a sports centre.

The boundary of the area touches Islamabad Expressway in the north and Murree Road in the south and east.

The government constructed a sports complex, a museum, Lok Virsa, a golf course and the Islamabad Club in the area.

However, in 1979, through a notification, the government ended the independent status of the area and included it in the national park, which led to the scrapping of the stadium project by the apex court. Now, the CDA wants to construct the stadium near D-12.

DAWN NEWS