DU to rent out C'wealth Games stadiums

Delhi University is planning to make some money out of stadiums on the campus which were upgraded ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2010.  Hiring indoor and outdoor sport facilities can cost anything between Rs 10,000 to Rs 3 lakh per day.

A decision will be taken in the DU executive council meeting on Thursday.

According to the university administration, this move would help keep up with the high cost of maintenance. “The air-conditioning and lighting alone cost more Rs 30-40,000 per day in the indoor stadium,” the chairman of DU sports council CS Dubey said.

In a deviation from the earlier practice, even DU-affiliated colleges may have to pay up for booking the upgraded sports facilities, in case the executive council ratifies the proposal.

Earlier the colleges had free access to all sports facilities for conducting sports trials and practice sessions.

For booking the university premises, the university institutions will have to get a final approval from the Deputy Registrar (Estate). The institutions outside the varsity’s fold will have to take permission from the DU registrar.

But adding a rider in the proposal, the agenda paper of executive council says, “Prior to submitting the request to the Deputy Registrar (Estate), the permission or recommendation for the use of university stadium or Polo Ground may please be obtained from the chairman, DU sports council.”

The university would strictly rent out the stadiums for non-commercial purpose, said Dubey.

The document also lists out the booking charges of stadiums in the agenda papers. For booking the multi-purpose hall with indoor games facility, the institutions will have to pay Rs 3 lakh per day.