Patna: Patna is expected to get its first international-standard hockey ground in August, with installation of the imported Polytan Blue AstroTurf now underway at Rajendra Nagar. The project, being developed at a cost of Rs 8.44 crore, is likely to be inaugurated on August 29, coinciding with National Sports Day.
The hockey ground is being constructed behind the Physical Education College in Rajendra Nagar by the Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (BUIDCO).
Paris Olympics-Grade Playing Surface
The facility will feature Polytan Blue AstroTurf imported from the Netherlands, an international-standard playing surface that was also used during the Paris Olympics 2024.
According to project officials, the turf is designed to improve the speed of play while reducing the risk of injuries to players. Work on the installation resumed this week after an authorised agency of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) inspected the site and certified it as compliant with international standards.
Once the turf is fully laid, construction of internal pathways and installation of sprinkler systems will begin.
Bihar’s Second International Hockey Facility
The Rajendra Nagar ground will become Bihar’s second international-standard hockey facility after Rajgir.
The second phase of the project will begin after the playing surface is completed. It includes permanent seating for 1,000 spectators and temporary galleries capable of accommodating an additional 1,500 people during major events.
Officials have also planned a modern dormitory to accommodate visiting players.
Boost for Hockey in Bihar
The new facility is expected to provide local players with regular access to an international-standard playing surface for training and competition.
Officials believe the stadium will strengthen Bihar’s ability to host national and international hockey tournaments while supporting the development of the sport in the state.
Marshland Converted into Sports Infrastructure
The hockey ground has been developed on land that was previously marshy and unsuitable for sporting activities. The site was once submerged under up to two metres of water, with continuous water seepage, dense vegetation and multiple layers of marshy soil.
To prepare the ground, thousands of trolley-loads of specialised soil were brought from the Patna Metro project. Construction teams excavated marshy sections using heavy machinery before filling them with rubble to stabilise the foundation for the international-standard playing surface.
Project Delayed by More Than a Decade
The foundation stone for the hockey stadium was laid in 2011 by the then Minister Sukhda Pandey on the occasion of Teachers’ Day. The project was originally scheduled to be completed by 2013, but remained unfinished for more than a decade.
On August 30, 2023, the Department of Art, Culture and Youth Affairs handed over the construction work to BUIDCO, paving the way for the project to move forward.
