This is an archive article published on December 9, 2021
Pune Infra Watch: Industrial city Pimpri-Chinchwad to become sports hub with renovated hockey stadium, other facilities
🔴 The Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium has been overhauled as per the norms of Hockey India, say officials. Another major development is the construction of a kabaddi and wrestling complex at Bhosari.
Pimpri-Chinchwad, the famous industrial city in Maharashtra, is now getting ready to emerge as a prominent sports hub too. The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has prepared a plan to overhaul existing sports facilities as well as set up new ones to promote various sports. Though belated, sports enthusiasts have welcomed the move but want the PCMC to speed up the process.
For starters, PCMC has overhauled the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium at Nehrunagar. The stadium, which was set up two decades back, will hold its first national hockey tournament from December 11. The facility has been infamous for its poor facilities and sometimes the turf was seen chewed by rats.
The renovated Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium at Nehrunagar is ready to hold its first national hockey tournament after a long time.
Officials, however, say that the stadium has been overhauled as per the norms of Hockey India (the national hockey federation) and soon would be ready to host even international matches. “We have taken care of every aspect of the stadium. Be it the carpet, seating arrangements for spectators, pavilion or the parking lots; everything has been redone by spending crores of rupees. Our team has even visited the Bhubaneswar stadium in Odisha to witness the facilities available for players and spectators. The changes have been brought in after consultation with Hockey India. In fact, when the stadium was being overhauled, Hockey India officials themselves visited and approved the changes. We are now even confident of holding international matches,” said additional municipal commissioner Vikas Dhakane.
Municipal Commissioner Rajesh Patil last week said: “Besides uplifting the hockey stadium, we are planning to develop complexes for every other sport in a bid to popularise each of them. We will be appointing expert coaches, roping in sport organisations to assist us and taking help from industrial houses…Our objective is to make Pimpri-Chinchwad a new sports hub and produce players of national and international standards.”
When Ruturaj Gaikwad, a resident of the Sangvi area was selected for India senior men’s cricket team based on his IPL performances with Chennai Super Kings, it was a proud moment for Pimpri-Chinchwad. Ruturaj is a product of Varroc-Vengsarkar Academy, run by former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar, at the PCMC’s Thergaon ground.
“We are setting up new facilities on the ground. A pavilion is coming up. We will soon fulfill other requirements of the ground,” said Sushma Shinde, who is in charge of PCMC’s sports section.
Another major development is the construction of a kabaddi and wrestling complex at Bhosari. “The work of the complex is in progress. It will provide a new fillip to traditional sports like kabaddi and wrestling,” said Shinde.
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Sachin Godambe, a long time resident of Bhosari, said: “Bhosari has been for ages famous for wrestling bouts. It has produced national-level wrestlers. Unfortunately, the facilities in Bhosari are pathetic and the sport seems to be disappearing from Bhosari. I hope the new complex will provide a major boost to wrestling and kabaddi.”
Shinde said PCMC is also developing four existing grounds at different places in the city. PCMC has 13 swimming pools and is planning to set up another one at Charholi, she said.
Raju Kotwal, a former cricket coach with the PCMC, said the Annasaheb Magar Stadium at Nehrunagar is long overdue for renovation. “It was the first stadium set in Pimpri-Chinchwad. The stadium, part of which was demolished, is now home to a Covid jumbo hospital. I hope the PCMC will undertake the project of overhauling it and making it available for sportspersons from different fields,” Kotwal said.
Kotwal lamented that the PCMC does not have a proper lodging facility for sportspersons coming from outside the city. Shinde, however, said the civic body is planning to set up a hostel facility at Nehrunagar stadium.
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Besides a sports complex in Bhosari, another one under the smart city project is being planned in the Pimple Saudagar area. “We have several badminton courts in the city and are also planning a few more,” Shinde said.
Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis.
Professional Legacy
Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles.
Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change.
Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities.
Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees.
Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area:
1. Political Shifts & Alliances
"Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala.
"BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls.
"Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections.
"NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections.
2. Civic & Administrative Accountability
"PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions.
"93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads.
3. Social & Labor Issues
"As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra.
"Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse.
Signature Beat
Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport.
X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More
The renovated Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium at Nehrunagar is ready to hold its first national hockey tournament after a long time.