CityweliveAs the state government prepares to inaugurate the ₹77.7 crore redevelopment initiative for the sports hub at Burlton Park tomorrow evening, dissenting voices from the Opposition have begun to emerge. Former Jalandhar MP and BJP leader Sushil Rinku criticized the project, stating, “When international cricket matches can no longer be hosted at Burlton Park, there’s no logic in allocating such a hefty investment.”
“Burlton Park has long been recognised for its international cricket stadium since its inception in 1955. It even hosted the India-Pakistan Test in 1983 and an India-England ODI in 1991. The project should not be altered to the point where it loses its historical significance,” he remarked.
He further pointed out, “As far as I know, the proposed stadium in the upcoming sports hub will accommodate only 2,500 spectators. That’s insufficient even for Ranji Trophy fixtures. I caution AAP leaders against spending public funds on a venture that won’t significantly benefit the city’s sports goods industry or its tourism potential.”
Congress MP from Jalandhar, Charanjit Channi, also weighed in, claiming that the budget allocated for the project had originally been approved during his term as Chief Minister at the close of the previous Congress government. “I distinctly remember sanctioning ₹77.7 crore while I was CM. The AAP government is simply utilising that previously earmarked amount,” he stated.
However, AAP leader Nitin Kohli responded by saying, “A world-class stadium must have a minimum capacity of 30,000 seats. Establishing such a large venue in the city’s core isn’t feasible. To accommodate that scale, extensive parking and broader access roads would also be necessary. Given the constraints, we opted for a 7,500-seat stadium, which is adequate for hosting domestic-level matches.”
