Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Chemmancherry Sports City to Be Restructured for Olympic Standards
Tamil Nadu had planned to build a large Sports City in Chemmancherry.
The project covers 128 acres and was originally estimated to cost Rs 261 crore.
Opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin said the earlier plan had been cancelled.
Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna said it was not cancelled but was being redesigned.
The new plan is intended to meet Olympic and international standards.
A new report will explain exactly how the improved project will be built.
The facility is planned to host 42 kinds of sporting events.
The government also wants to create 10 Olympic Academies and sports hostels in every district.
Officials said construction could start within six months after the plan is finalized.
Minister Aadhav Arjuna said the Chemmancherry Sports City project has not been scrapped.
The project will be redesigned as an Olympic-standard facility capable of hosting 42 international sporting events.
A new Detailed Project Report will be prepared under Tamil Nadu’s proposed sports policy.
Udhayanidhi Stalin said the original Rs 261-crore project on 128 acres had effectively been cancelled.
The minister said construction could begin within six months, finish within five years, and include 10 Olympic Academies and sports hostels in all 38 districts.
- Who
- Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna and Opposition Leader Udhayanidhi Stalin discussed the project in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
- What
- The Chemmancherry Global Sports City is being restructured into an Olympic-standard facility rather than abandoned, according to the minister.
- When
- The issue was discussed on Monday; the minister said work could begin within six months after the revised plan is finalized.
- Where
- Chemmancherry, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on 128 acres of land.
- Why
- The government says a new plan is needed to create international-standard sports infrastructure and improve Tamil Nadu’s sporting performance.
Government Position
Opposition Concern
Whether the project was cancelled
Government Position
Aadhav Arjuna said the Sports City was not scrapped and was instead being improved and restructured.
Opposition Concern
Udhayanidhi Stalin said the project proposed during the DMK regime had been cancelled by the present government.
Project design
Government Position
The government wants a larger Olympic-standard facility capable of hosting 42 international sporting events.
Opposition Concern
The opposition emphasized that the original plan followed studies and was important for improving sporting standards and enabling India to host sporting events.
Speed of implementation
Government Position
The minister said work would begin as soon as possible after a new DPR and could be completed within five years.
Opposition Concern
Udhayanidhi Stalin requested that the work be completed quickly, citing the importance of the acquired land and the long-delayed project.
- Project location
- Chemmancherry, Chennai
- Land area
- 128 acres
- Original estimated cost
- Rs 261 crore
- Planned sporting capacity
- 42 sporting events at international standards
- Proposed academies
- 10 world-class Olympic Academies
- District infrastructure
- Sports hostels for men and women in all 38 districts
- Proposed timeline
- Work to begin within six months and be completed within five years after finalization