Swarnabharati indoor stadium to reopen after Rs 12-crore upgrade

The Swarnabharati Indoor Stadium at Resapuvanipalem will reopen soon after a major upgrade costing over Rs 12 crore, officials of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) said.

The renovation work began nearly three years ago and has now entered the final stage. GVMC plans to inaugurate the upgraded stadium on January 25. The reopening comes ahead of the State-level Karate Championship, which will be held at the venue on January 29. Officials said permission for the event has already been granted after collecting the prescribed fee.

The indoor stadium was built in 1997 under the GVMC East Zone limits. It originally had a seating capacity of 1,300 and six badminton courts. The facility later hosted weightlifting and volleyball events during the 32nd National Games. At the time, air-conditioning and additional infrastructure were introduced.

In recent years, the building required repairs. The wooden flooring deteriorated, and the gallery seating and AC plant were damaged. GVMC initially planned a renovation budget of Rs 8 crore. However, the scope was later expanded. The seating capacity has been increased to 2,400, and several new facilities were added. These include modular washrooms, separate dressing and changing rooms for players, an open gym, a walking track, and a children’s play area.

The project faced delays earlier, prompting GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg to inspect the site recently. Officials said only minor AC-related fittings remain pending.