The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) will next week review the progress of the ongoing renovation work at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium (JLN) in Kaloor, ahead of the December 20 deadline set for completion of the work.
The probability of publishing the amount of work carried out and the investments associated with it is also being investigated. The GCDA took back ownership of the stadium on 28 November after accounting for works completed up to that point, after handing it over to the sponsor of a postponed international friendly with the Argentina national team led by Lionel Messi, originally scheduled for 17 November. The pending work is continuing, GCDA sources said.
The stadium was handed over to the Sports Kerala Foundation (SKF), a non-profit organization under the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, which functioned as a special purpose vehicle. SKF in turn handed it over to the sponsor, Reporter Broadcasting Corporation (RBC), for the period between 26 September and 30 November on an “as is, where is” basis.
While GCDA sources said the monitoring and technical committees comprising representatives of GCDA, SKF and RBC, set up to oversee the work were still working, SKF sources said the committees remained disbanded. RBC sources could not be reached for comment.
The GCDA has identified 13 renovation works that are either to be completed or are in various stages of progress by the sponsor when taking over the stadium. The sponsor was given an additional deadline of December 20 to complete the remaining works based on the plan submitted by them.
Among the pending works were plastering and composition work on a section of 845 meters, completion of fortifications followed by tarring of the parking lot, installation of sanitary equipment as part of a complete reconstruction of toilets, installation of granite slabs and tiles on the tree line, sheathing of the gate at the main entrance of the JLN Stadium subway station – and installation of 292 illuminated LED lamps in the stadium – placed on the already procured LED lamps.
The GCDA acknowledged that the pitch turf has been renovated to meet global standards, the lower deck chairs have been completely replaced, new chairs have been installed in the VIP area, the renovation of the toilets has been completed at 90%, a 647 meter compound wall has been built, granite work has been completed for 35 tree guards and the sponsor has assured that a new paint for the interior of the stadium will be applied over a period of five years to warranty period.
Published – 12 Dec 2025 21:18 IST
