The Anna Thidal mini stadium, rebuilt recently under the Smart City Mission in Puducherry, is in tatters with miscreants damaging toilets, wooden doors, windows, floored areas and electrical fittings as most part of the complex remained unprotected and unused since the stadium was handed over to the Puducherry Municipality after completion of works in December 2025.

The stadium complex, refurbished at a cost of around ₹17 crore, was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai during his visit to Puducherry last year. As part of the refurbishment of the mini stadium, standing on a 9,600 sq m area, the facility had been provided with a proper playground for schoolchildren from nearby institutions/neighbourhoods and the general public, a gallery for 4,500 viewers on the eastern and western side of the ground, and a two-sided gallery for 500 viewers, with a stage in the middle on the southern side of the ground.

It is also equipped with a parking space for 1,500 two-wheelers, an office, dormitory, multi-purpose hall, toilets, and water supply, drainage, and electrical facilities. Around seven months after the inaugural, the dormitory, office building, toilets and multi-purpose halls spot a picture of complete neglect warranting government to spend additional money for repair works.

Sathish Kumar, a resident of Avvai Nagar, Lawspet, said miscreants had managed to gain entry into the complex and damaged the facilities. “Public infrastructure created using taxpayers’ money should be maintained properly. It should be provided tight security so that miscreants do not enter the premises. Steps should be taken for the proper upkeep of the property. Security has to be provided in the stadium as the facility was meant for use by schoolchildren,” he said.

When contacted, Director of Local Administration Department M. Adharsh, said an inspection of the premises was undertaken to take corrective measures after complaints surfaced about the building’s poor upkeep. The problem with the mini stadium, he said was that when the project was handed over by the Smart City Mission after completion, the complex did not have a compound wall. Security was also not provided to the facility, he said.

As an immediate measure, the LAD has appointed two security guards for providing round-the-clock security to the place. “We have already allotted the shops to the vendors but many are yet to start operations. The vendors are facing some issues and we are trying to sort them out. The stadium will be put to use by roping in nearby schools that do not have playgrounds. We have asked the schools to provide us a schedule for allowing children to use the ground,” he said.

With respect to damaged portions, Mr. Adarsh said tender would be floated soon to carry out repair works. “It will cost around ₹25 lakh to repair the damaged portions. We are also planning to fence the entire complex and install Closed Circuit Television cameras. There are a few works remaining to be completed in the stadium.,” he added.

Published - July 23, 2026 08:48 pm IST