Thiruvananthapuram, August 11: The government of Kerala is set to invest ₹100 crore to upgrade the historic G.V. Raja Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, making it suitable for international events and Olympic hosting. Central Minister of State for Tourism, Suresh Gopi, is advancing this initiative after discussions with top officials from Kerala University.
Gopi stated, “Conversations with officials have taken place, and steps will now be taken to shape the proposed significant changes, which will be owned and operated by Kerala University.”
Having resided in Thiruvananthapuram for a long time, Gopi toured the stadium with Dr. Mohanan Kunnummal, the Vice-Chancellor of Kerala University. The meeting also included R.S. Shashikumar, a financial member of the university syndicate.
Shashikumar informed that Gopi mentioned the central government could allocate ₹100 crore to renovate G.V. Raja Stadium and make it suitable for the Olympics. Kerala University will soon prepare a master plan for the stadium’s major transformation. With Gopi’s positive outlook, there is hope that this stadium will be transformed into a world-class sports center.
This proposed upgrade comes in light of India’s bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics. The Indian government aims to host the 2026 Olympics in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. India has officially applied to host the games, with the International Olympic Committee expected to select a host between 2029.
G.V. Raja Stadium could serve as a significant international athletics venue. It has previously hosted an international One Day match but has been overlooked on the global stage. The stadium’s synthetic track and other facilities are in poor condition. As the next step, a comprehensive report and master plan are anticipated from the university. This development is crucial, especially since the stadium was built in 1937.
G.V. Raja Stadium is named after Colonel Godavarma Raja, regarded as a guiding figure in Kerala’s sports movement.
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