Built on green technologies, Talkatora Stadium inaugurated

Talkatora Stadium complex will be an environmentalist’s delight. Constructed with recycled building material, fly ash and heat reflective glass, the dome-shaped stadium is a perfect green zone. On Wednesday, Delhi’s Chief Minister Smt. Shiela Dikshit inaugurated the sporting complex.

The Times of India, dated 25 Feb 2010, reports that while describing the stadium as a unique piece of modern-day architecture, Chief Minister said it was built with environment-friendly materials.

The complex encloses the stadium and a facility block. The stadium has been connected to the block through a tunnel which will be used by athletes during the Games.

Talkatora, which is the venue for the boxing competition, and the stadium will accommodate 2,700 spectators and has a parking capacity for 500 cars.

Smt. Dikshit said efforts are on to make the Games a memorable event so that Delhi can host bigger sporting events in the future.

Elaborating on various infrastructure development projects, She said the city must seize the opportunity to present itself as ‘‘a major destination for international sporting events’’.

The Delhi government has undertaken several key infrastructure development projects as part of its preparation for the Games.

Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi Chairman Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, MP, said India could now bid for the 2020 Olympics. ‘‘All Games-related projects will be completed as per their deadlines,’’ Kalmadi said.

New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) chairman Parimal Rai while elaborating on the state-of-the-art facilities being provided at Talkatora Stadium said the complex had been upgraded with acoustic ceiling, score boards, sports lighting etc.

Speaking on the facility block, Rai said: ‘‘it is a multi-purpose air-conditioned building which has been constructed in accordance to the green building concept. Heat reflective glass has been used for the facade of this block. Rain water harvesting provisions as well as dual knob flushing system have been included in the design concept.’’

During the Commonwealth Games, each floor of the facility-block will be used for a specific purpose. For instance, the ground floor of the block will have athlete cubicles, medical office warm-up area and athlete lounge. The first floor will have a doping-control office, federation office, and technical official lounge, committee room, meeting room and changing rooms, among other facilities.

Around 104 CCTV cameras will be fitted on the periphery walls of the stadium. Natural resources and habitat have been integrated into the overall design of this stadium.