Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, a landmark sports arena revamped for the 2010 Commonwealth Games at a cost of ₹961 crore, is now set to be demolished. The government plans to replace it with a modern ‘Sports City’, featuring state-of-the-art venues for multiple sports and residential complexes for athletes. Spread across 102 acres, much of the land currently remains underused - prompting the Ministry of Sports to rethink its utilization strategy.

According to officials, the plan is still in its ideation phase, with no official timeline announced. The ministry is reportedly studying successful international models, including Doha’s Aspire Zone, to create a blueprint that integrates training, competition, and accommodation within one ecosystem.

The new Sports City aims to boost India’s global sporting presence and provide better infrastructure for athletes. However, the decision to dismantle a stadium recently renovated -and further upgraded with ₹50 crore for the World Para Athletics Championship - has sparked debates about planning, costs, and the need for sustainable reuse of public infrastructure.