Why Gahunge: some feel even 30 km is too far

Work on the Rs-300 crore Pune International Cricket Centre at Gahunge is under way and the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) is confident it will be ready for next year’s IPL,but some fans in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad wish matches had been slotted within the city instead of 30 km away.

“Not all cricket fans own two-wheelers and cars. There are many who travel by bus. How will young school and college kids reach Gahunge? It is too far. The PMPMPL bus service to this area is pathetic,” said Rajendra Shelkhe,a former PCMC player. Sachin Rangdal,a fan from Bhosari,said instead of Gahunge,they should play at Nehru Stadium. “The MCA and the PMC should sit together and sort out the issue and not make life difficult for cricket fans. It will be a real struggle to reach Gahunge village,” he said.

The deadline to complete the stadium is March 11 and MCA president Ajay Shirke said,“Construction is on and the foundation has been laid. We should get possession of the stadium before the deadline,” he said.

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The MCA planned the new stadium because Nehru Stadium was a subject of conflict between the MCA and the PMC,which owns the Nehru Stadium and wanted to let it out at its terms. A match between India and England was moved to Kolkata after the MCA said it was not in a position to host it; this was when MCA decided to build its own stadium at Gahunge.

Gahunge,30 km from Pune city,is just 5 km from the Pune-Mumbai Expressway,and the MCA is hoping IPL matches will attract fans from Mumbai too.