Chandigarh Cricket Infrastructure Set For Indoor Facility
Chandigarh is set to add a major new piece of sports infrastructure after the national cricket board cleared a proposal to develop an international-standard indoor cricket facility in the city, marking a shift towards year-round training infrastructure in urban sports planning. The project, now awaiting land allocation, reflects a broader push to build modern training ecosystems rather than relying only on match venues.
According to officials familiar with the proposal, the indoor cricket facility is expected to be built on roughly 5,000 square metres of land in a well-connected part of the city. Once the land is finalised, the project will be implemented directly through the national board using an external agency, signalling a centrally driven approach to sports infrastructure development in Tier-2 cities. The plan includes year-round training infrastructure such as indoor practice strips, automated bowling systems, fitness and rehabilitation spaces, and additional facilities designed for both elite and emerging players. For a city like Chandigarh — which has historically relied on open-air stadiums — the move represents a structural shift from seasonal sports infrastructure to climate-resilient training systems that can function through extreme heat, monsoon conditions, and winter disruptions. Urban planners say the indoor cricket facility is part of a wider pattern across Indian cities, where sports infrastructure is increasingly being treated as civic infrastructure rather than only a recreational asset.
Recent proposals to upgrade lighting and facilities at the city’s main cricket stadium to meet international standards also indicate a broader attempt to reposition Chandigarh as a competitive venue for national and international matches. The economics of the project are also significant. Initial estimates suggest that the indoor cricket facility could involve an investment of around ₹20 crore, while land costs in the city are substantially higher due to limited availability and strict central approvals. This has made land allocation the most critical step before the project can move into the execution stage. Sports infrastructure experts point out that such facilities often generate indirect urban benefits that go beyond athletics. Year-round training centres attract coaching academies, sports technology providers, physiotherapy services, and local sports-related employment. In fast-growing urban regions, this kind of ecosystem can strengthen the local economy while also improving access to structured sports training for young residents.
The indoor cricket facility proposal also aligns with a broader national strategy that has increasingly focused on building modern training infrastructure across emerging regions rather than concentrating resources only in traditional cricket hubs. In the long term, this approach could help decentralise sports infrastructure and create more balanced urban growth in smaller but strategically located cities like Chandigarh. If the land allocation process moves quickly, the project could become one of the city’s most significant sports-infrastructure additions in recent years — and a potential model for integrating climate-resilient training spaces into future urban planning.
