Patna: Senior officials in Bihar have warned of penalties and possible blacklisting for delays in the construction of key facilities at the Rajgir Sports Complex, as the state government pushes to complete work on a new cricket stadium and associated infrastructure.
At a review meeting on Monday, Kumar Ravi, secretary of the building construction department, expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of remaining works at the Rajgir cricket stadium, including the General Stand West (G+2), General Stand East (G+2) and the Reverse Pavilion (G+2). He directed the executive engineer and the construction agency to accelerate progress and increase manpower at the site.
The contractor was issued a stern warning, with officials stating that failure to meet milestones could lead to financial penalties. If targets set for March are not achieved, the department may initiate proceedings to blacklist the company.
The cricket stadium is being built within the Rajgir Sports Complex on approximately 18 acres of land, with a total built-up area of 52,318 square metres. The ground and main pavilion have already been completed and were inaugurated by the chief minister earlier this year.
According to officials, five additional practice pitches for players will be ready by the end of February, two made from red clay and three from black clay. Four high-mast floodlights are also scheduled to be installed. The secretary said that consent from the Board of Control for Cricket in India should be obtained for the installation to avoid complications during potential international fixtures.
The stadium has been developed to international standards under the supervision of the BCCI’s chief curator. A total of 13 pitches have been prepared, including six using red soil sourced from Pune and seven from black soil brought from Mokama. Seating capacity is expected to accommodate around 40,000 spectators.
Facilities under development include players’ and umpires’ lounges, dressing rooms, a press conference room, VIP seating, a media gallery and commentary boxes, as well as a gym, physio room, spa and third umpire room. A drainage system has been installed to ensure quick removal of rainwater from the field. Scoreboards, sound systems, water supply infrastructure and fire safety systems are also being put in place.
In addition to the cricket stadium, construction is under way on three multipurpose indoor halls and a cycle velodrome at the sports complex. The secretary instructed officials to expedite completion so that indoor sporting events can begin at the earliest, and emphasised the need to maintain cleanliness across the site.
Senior engineers from the building construction department are continuing to monitor the quality and pace of work. Officials said the stadium, once fully completed and certified, will be capable of hosting national and international matches and is expected to provide local players with access to world-class training facilities.
