City’s first box cricket stadium set to open on May 14

Claiming to be a first of its kind initiative in Ludhiana, a box cricket stadium has come up in Salem Tabri where not only teenagers but even adults and the elderly are enrolling themselves to play. The stadium, which is being given finishing touches, will be handed over to the public on May 14 and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is likely to inaugurate it.

An enchanting painting of a batsman greets visitors at the entrance of the park, where this stadium is being built, making it a special place.

A brainchild of Aam Aadmi Party councillor from Ward 94, Aman Bagga, the idea was given wings by the AAP North MLA Madan Lal Bagga. The stadium took nearly two months to complete.

Interestingly, no other constituency in Ludhiana has such a government stadium, allowing people to play cricket and that too without paying a penny.

Talking to The Tribune here on Thursday, AAP councillor Aman Bagga said this was his dream project which he envisaged during the last MC elections. People of his ward had been demanding sports infrastructure and after envisaging the idea, he requested his father who was the MLA North. He got the tenders cleared in no time and started the work. “I have got a project worth about Rs 60 lakh passed by the government which includes two more box cricket stadiums and a badminton court. One box cricket stadium has been completed while work on the badminton court near Jalandhar bypass is going on at full swing. This is a gift to the residents of the ward,” added Bagga.

Councillor Bagga claimed that this could be Punjab’s first box cricket stadium constructed in the North constituency with an iron fencing and not just net on all sides, where people can play cricket free of cost. Though Ludhiana has several private box stadiums, players have to shell out a hefty fee for playing cricket. Another important thing is that the government will also provide bat, ball and other cricket equipment free of cost to the aspirants.

Bagga, while showing excitement over the initiative, said the day people of his ward were asked to start enrolling to play cricket in the stadium, over 300 entries were received. Although the signing up age in the stadium is 14, people of all age-groups, including the elderly, are getting themselves enrolled. Proper I-cards would be issued to the enrolled persons and without enrollment, no one will be allowed to play cricket. Initially, only people of ward 94 will be allowed to play cricket. Once more stadiums are built, residents of other wards in North constituency will also be accommodated, he said.

Bagga revealed that special arrangements for lighting have also been made at the stadium to hold matches during the night as well. To prevent electrocution, earthing has been done. For the upkeep of stadium, persons would be employed, he said.

Ludhiana