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Business Insider IndiaAn aerial view of IGMC stadium with social distance marking to buy vegetables during the lockdown in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh on March 27BCCL
The authorities in Mumbai announced that the National Sports Complex of India (NSCI) will be used as an observation facility to check suspected cases of Coronavirus.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) also turned three of its facilities into quarantine zones — including the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
Other cities in India are repurposing stadiums to distribute essential supplies or collect blood donations as they have the space required to enforce social distancing.
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Coronavirus cases in India crossed 6,000 with 166 deaths so far. In order to manage the sudden surge in COVID-19 patients, state governments are enlisting the help of sports authorities. Stadiums across the country are being repurposed to handle the health crisis as they have the space required to enforce social distancing.
Normally known for hosting badminton matches and kabaddi tournaments, the National Sports Complex of India (NSCI) will be used to house Mumbai suspected cases of Coronavirus, according to the local authorities.
In other parts of the country, stadiums are also being used to distribute essential goods and run blood donation drives.
India is following in the footsteps of other countries like China, Australia and Brazil — who also turned their stadiums into isolation centres for mass quarantine needed to ‘flatten the curve’.
From the National Sports Complex of India in Mumbai to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi, here’s are the stadiums being repurposed in light of the new health crisis:
The National Sports Complex of India at Worli in Mumbai is the latest addition to the list. It also has\indoor space which is being used as an observation facility. Anyone who has come in contact with a Coronavirus patient or is suspected of being COVID-19 positive will be asked to stay at the complex until the doctors can clear them, and allow them to go home.
The stadium is next to Worli Koliwada, one of the 241 coronavirus hotspots in the city.
Dome Entertainment, the company in charge of managing the stadium, set up 300 beds with standardised facilities as per the guidelines of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Telangana’s Cyberabad
The Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Telangana’s Cyberabad has been turned into a quarantine facility. It has separate entrances and exits that as effective isolation.
The government is making use of the rooms that were available at the sports complex of the stadium. The municipal officials and health authorities inspected the premises and handed over the sanitation work to Circle 11 Serilingampally authorities.
Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) Stadium in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
The IGMC stadium has the capacity to seat 25,000 people and is known for hosting the India-West Indies One Day International Cricket Match in 2002. The authorities recently spent ₹60 lakh to construct a brand-new tennis hard-court.
Now, the stadium is being used to sell vegetables during the lockdown so that social distancing can be enforced. It’s also been fitted with a tunnel that can spray 500-litres disinfectant before needing a refill.
Other tunnels are expected to be set up at the BR Stadium and the Makineni Basavapunnaiah Stadium in the district, which are also being used to accommodate the sale of vegetables.
Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata, West Bengal
With blood banks dried up during the Coronavirus crisis, the Kolkata police organised a month-long blood donation camp at the Netaji Indoor Stadium to enforce social distancing.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also visited the stadium on April 1 to make sure that it meets requirements.
So far, three people have died from Coronavirus in the state.
West Bengal’s Dumurjala Stadium
The Dumurjala Stadium is a new construction in Howrah. According to Mamata Banerjee, since it’s not being used for sporting events due to the lockdown, it will be converted into a 150-bed quarantine centre to combat an to increase of Coronavirus patients.
Once the pandemic is over, she promises that the stadium will be reverted to its original condition — as good as new.
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi
The Sports Authority of India was approached by the Delhi government to turn the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium into a quarantine centre after the number of cases in the national capital surged after many cases from Nizamuddin incident emerged.
The final decision has been deferred for now, according to PTI. However, the stadium is on stand-by should the need arise for its use.
India Gandhi Athletic Stadium (IGAS) in Assam’s Guwahati
The Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati is also being turned into an isolation centre. The sporting complex is being retrofitted into a makeshift hospital that will be able to take in at least 1,000 patients at a time.