Wankhede Stadium getting spruced up

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is all set to redevelop Wankhede stadium at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crores. The rebuilt stadium will be hosting some of the matches of the 2011 Cricket World Cup including the final. As part of the plans of reconstruction which will also increase the seating capacity of the stadium by 10,000, MCA has already started pulling down the Garware pavilion, the North and South Stands. The MCA had submitted the redevelopment plan of the stadium in June 2008 to BMC and municipal officials said that the plan would be cleared soon. After the demolition of the three stands, the two-level seating at the pavilions will be converted into three levels and the old benches will be replaced with conformable bucket chairs, sources in the MCA said. Shashi Prabhu, the chief architect of redevelopment plan has promised that it will be a world class stadium with facilities comparable to those at international arenas. Ratnakar Shetty, the treasurer of the MCA said that besides the bucket sitting arrangement, they will also construct a media gallery equipped with modern facilities which will accommodate nearly 250 journalists. “We will add more corporate boxes, toilets and food courts. It will accommodate at least 40,000 spectators. The dressing room will be taken up at the upper level of the stadium with the facility of a gymnasium. The player can utilise all facilities and precaution will be taken that they will not come in contact of people to avoid controversy. The redevelopment will be completed before October 2010,” Shetty said.