The idea of a new cricket stadium that can hold 1,00,000 people in or near Mumbai has gained momentum. The office of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has asked the state sports department to identify suitable locations for the new venue — one that will be designed along the lines of the Wankhede Stadium. On May 16, Fadnavis expressed his willingness to allot land to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to build a new stadium in Mumbai with a seating capacity of 1,00,000. Within a week, the administration started moving on ground.

Five days after the announcement (on May 21), Vikas Kharge, additional chief secretary to the chief minister, wrote to the additional chief secretary of urban development to immediately initiate the process to ensure implementation of the announcement at the earliest possible. On June 5, a letter was sent to the Directorate of Sports and Youth Services, directing the department to proceed with the action required to complete the formalities. “The sports and youth services department has been asked to submit the report on this to the CM’s office,” a senior Mantralaya official said.

CM Devendra Fadnavis at an event on May 16, where he spoke of new stadium. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi