Mangaluru’s long-pending cricket stadium proposal has moved into a land-identification phase, with the Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) searching for parcels of more than 35 acres and giving priority to a site of around 50 acres, according to MUDA chairman Santosh Kumar Shetty.
Shetty said efforts were under way to identify suitable land in and around Mangaluru taluk and that surveyors had been assigned the task. Sites close to a river are being examined because a cricket ground requires substantial water availability, he said.
The proposal is not yet a sanctioned construction project. MUDA does not have a direct role in building the stadium, according to Shetty. Its proposed role is to act as a bridge between the Karnataka government and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), which would be involved in developing the facility.
Shetty said KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad had indicated that the association was ready to construct a stadium if land was provided. A letter from the KSCA, along with the proposal, has been sent to the Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner, he said. The district minister in charge has also shown interest in the project, according to the MUDA chairman.
The push follows a demand that has existed for several years for a properly equipped cricket venue in Mangaluru. Shetty said the absence of such a facility was limiting opportunities for local talent. Players seeking better training may have to travel to Bengaluru, but the cost, time and other practical constraints make that option difficult for many, he said.
Shetty linked his interest in the project to his earlier involvement in sports administration. He said that after becoming president of the Dakshina Kannada Badminton Association, he had helped organise an international-level badminton tournament at the Urwa Store ground in the city. He added that he was now making efforts within his capacity to advance the cricket-stadium proposal after becoming MUDA chairman.
The initiative has also received support from former India fast bowler Javagal Srinath, who contacted Shetty to encourage the effort. Shetty said Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad would be invited to Mangaluru once the preparations were complete.
The immediate task is to identify a site that meets the area and water-related requirements and to complete the administrative coordination involving MUDA, the district administration, the state government and the KSCA. The statements available so far establish a search for land and institutional interest, but do not confirm a final site, construction tender, project cost or completion timeline.
