John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, October 04: The Mini Stadium at Dollygunj, once a bustling hub of sports activities in South Andaman, now stands as a stark testament to official apathy. Constructed to foster sporting talent in the region, this prominent facility has gradually lost its identity. Today, it wears a forlorn look.
The Mini Stadium’s dilapidated condition renders it unsuitable for sports activities. The interior ground is overgrown with grasses, while rusted iron beams dangle precariously. The stadium is no longer a safe space for any form of recreation. Even the stadium’s infrastructure has crumbled, according to reports.
Previously, students from ITI Dollygunj and Dollygunj Primary School utilized the ground, attracting hundreds of sports enthusiasts every weekend. Sadly, due to neglect by authorities, the stadium has languished in disrepair, remaining deserted throughout the year.
Moreover, during nighttime hours, the absence of proper fencing and lighting arrangements has turned the stadium into a haven for anti-social elements.
Mr. Dharmender Narayan, Senior Vice Chairman of the Port Blair Municipal Council, expressed concern over the deteriorating state of not only Dollygunj Mini Stadium but also Bird Line and Garacharama. He emphasized the urgent need for reconstruction and modernization, revealing that proposals for each stadium estimated at three crore rupees were pending due to funding constraints, leading to significant delays.