Athletes training at Gurugram’s Tau Devi Lal Stadium were unable to use the athletics track and other regular training facilities for four days while Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s official helicopter remained parked on the stadium grounds during his Singapore visit, according to a report by Navbharat Times.
The helicopter was stationed in the middle of the stadium field while the chief minister was away on a three-day visit to Singapore. After Saini returned, the aircraft flew him back to Chandigarh on Wednesday, allowing athletes to regain access to the track and training areas, the report said.
The disruption affected state-level athletes who use the stadium for regular practice. According to athletes cited in the report, the helicopter’s presence at the venue is not an isolated occurrence. They said the aircraft is parked at the stadium for one or two days almost every month, creating repeated difficulties for athletes trying to maintain consistent training schedules.
The stadium’s synthetic field and running track are closed under security protocols when the helicopter lands and is parked inside the premises. This prevents athletes from entering those areas during the aircraft’s stay. Basketball and volleyball courts can continue to be used after the helicopter is parked at its designated location, but access to the inner synthetic field and running track remains restricted, the report said.
The use of the stadium as a helicopter landing and parking site has also affected training in the past. In March 2020, a cricket ground at the facility was reportedly cleared during a training session because the helicopter of then Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was scheduled to land there.
The situation highlights the operational conflict between a public sports complex and the security requirements associated with visits by senior government officials. The stadium is used by athletes preparing for state and national-level competitions, while the lack of a government or Civil Aviation Ministry helipad in Gurugram has led to its use as an aviation facility for official movement, according to the report.
Private landing facilities are available in the city, but the report does not identify any change in the government’s current arrangements or confirm whether an alternative official helipad is being planned. It also does not provide a statement from the stadium administration, the Haryana government or the Civil Aviation Ministry on the repeated disruption.
The immediate access problem ended after the helicopter left the stadium on Wednesday. The report did not specify any formal schedule or administrative decision concerning future helicopter landings at Tau Devi Lal Stadium.
