Delhi’s iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JLN), home to historic sporting moments is all set for a dramatic transformation. The government is planning to demolish the 60,000-seater arena to build India’s first world-class Sports City, a project inspired by Doha’s Aspire Zone.
Built for the 1982 Asian Games and revamped for the 2010 Commonwealth Games at a cost of ₹961 crore, the stadium recently underwent another ₹50 crore upgrade before hosting the World Para Athletics Championships.
Yet, the Sports Ministry believes the massive 102-acre complex is underutilized with only about 35% of its space in active use.
The vision? A high-tech Sports City that will house venues for all major Olympic disciplines, athlete residences, and modern training facilities creating an ecosystem where athletes can live, train, and compete in one place.
“All offices will be relocated and the main stadium dismantled,” a ministry official confirmed. “We want to use every inch of the area efficiently.”
This isn’t the first time such a plan has surfaced. Back in 2020, an ₹8,000-crore redevelopment project was proposed under then sports minister Kiren Rijiju, promising indoor training arenas and a 5-star accommodation facility.
But this time, the government’s intent seems stronger buoyed by a renewed focus on turning India into a global sports hub.
Over the years, JLN has hosted everything from the Commonwealth Games to concerts and cultural events, becoming more than just a sporting venue, it’s a piece of Delhi’s soul.
Its demolition will mark the end of an era, but perhaps also the beginning of India’s bold new sporting future.
A goodbye to an icon. A hello to ambition. The race to reimagine India’s sports capital has just begun.