NDMC makes a buck through space rental at Talkatora Stadium

The NDMC is learnt to be already earning a revenue of Rs 2.5 crore every month from the new scheme,an NDMC official said.

He said there was much demand from ministries and government departments to have office spaces allotted at the stadium complex. At present,the National Crime Records Bureau,Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,the Land Ports Authority of India,and the Central Adoption Authority of India have been allotted spaces among a few other departments.

The NDMC had invested Rs 100 crore in revamping the Talkatora Stadium for the Games held in October 2010. Apart from the stadium building that was created specifically for the CWG boxing events,the NDMC had created a separate five-floor building as the facility block,which was used by the OC for training and coaching sessions,media briefings,cultural events and other staff activities.

“There is a 22,000 square metre super area in each of the five floors; and close to 12,000 square feet each of carpet area,” the official said. The NDMC plans to retain the ground floor to have a boxing centre,and would continue have other sports facilities there.

“The two basement parking lots are an added attraction for the ministries to take up space here,” said the official.

The municipal council has several allotment requests pending from various departments like the Central Information Commission,the Bureau of Police Research and Development,Archeological Survey of India,State Bank of India,and the National Skill Development Corporation amongst several others. “Allotments would be made according to space availability shortly,” the official said.

In January,the NDMC had hiked its rent for political meetings and other commercial events at the main sports block from Rs 60,000 for eight hours to Rs 1.25 lakh a day.