While hectic activities are going on behind it,hockey legend Dhyan Chands sculpture stands tall amid the winter haze,poised to hit the winning stroke. The Major Dhyan Chand Stadium is slated to be the first to open among Commonwealth Games venues in the Capital the heritage-era structures new avatar will be unveiled on January 22. The original design of the stadium has remained the same,with only facilities upgraded. The western façade of the stadium,being a heritage structure,remains untouched by construction. Being part of a heritage structure and standing on the India Gate Central Vista has meant the stadiums mast lights could not exceed 12 metres in height the same as its parapet wall. There are clear instructions that no structure can exceed a certain height on the Central Vista. Otherwise it will mar the view of India Gate, a senior engineer from CPWD,undertaking the stadiums renovation,said. But this unique problem resulted in a unique solution: hinged mast lights. Such moveable mast lights have been put up in a stadium for the first time. With 2,200 Lux (measurement of light) level of light being the requirement for high-definition transmission,the stadiums mast lights can be raised to a height of 30 metres during the Games starting on October 3. Once the Games are over,they can be brought down to a level of 12 metres the same as the parapet wall. Inside the stadium,the stands originally earthen embankments were levelled and concrete seats have been constructed instead. Another problem earlier was the distance of the seats from the turf. The CPWD engineer explained: The seating was at least 40 metres from the playing area. Now,it is merely two or three metres away. We have also put up green chairs,all of which will be numbered for security reasons. The stadium has two international-standard pitches besides a warm-up pitch. New polygrass turfs are being laid on all pitches so that the turf does not retain water. The venue also has new sprinkler systems imported from Perrot,a German firm. The stadium has a two-tier underground parking facility,to be used after the Games as well. Once known as Irwin Amphitheatre,the stadium was used by British soldiers as a sports club. The original architect of the stadium was Robert Tor Russell. The stadium was used as a multi-competition venue,catering to all disciplines,during the 1951 Asian Games the first time India hosted a sports event of such magnitude. It was converted into a hockey stadium in 1982. FAST FACTS A heritage structure built in 1933 Area: 37 acres Seating Capacity: 14,000 & 6,000 for covered VIP gallery Sports Facilities: 2 international competition pitches,one training and warm-up pitch,training swimming pool Whats SpecialHinged mast lightsAs a global first,mast lights can be raised up to 30 metres in height during the Games,then brought down to 12 metres after the event
