Pune to have own cricket stadium

Hard pressed to keep the needs of an increasing fan-base in the city, the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) on Sunday lay the foundation stone for a bigger cricket stadium at village Gahunje on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway. The project, at a cost of Rs 150 crore, is expected to be completed by November 2010.

After a row over entry passes between MCA and various municipal bodies saw shifting of the India-Sri Lanka ODI to Kolkata last year, the MCA managing committee in June worked out a deal with a Mumbai-based firm. According to a MoU between the two parties, the stadium will come up in an area measuring approximately 35 acres.

“We are happy that work has begun,” said MCA president Ajay Shirke.