The staggering ₹70 crore figure touted by the sponsors for upgrading the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kaloor, Kochi, ahead of the international friendly match featuring world champions Argentina and their star player Lionel Messi, is being called into question. K. Chandran Pillai, chairman of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), described the estimate as “vague and highly subjective.”
Pillai clarified that a special three-member monitoring committee, consisting of the GCDA’s superintendent engineer, the general manager of the Sports Kerala Foundation (SKF), and a representative from the sponsor, Reporter Broadcasting Corporation (RBC), will meticulously assess the project’s scope and determine the actual costs. The GCDA has already handed over the stadium to SKF for these vital infrastructure enhancements. While the match was originally slated for November 17, it has since been postponed.
Key renovation tasks include building a new compound wall, upgrading the lighting system from halogen to broadcast-friendly LED floodlights, installing modern seating, improving the stadium’s washroom facilities, and streamlining cable management by organizing them into ducts. Pillai emphasized that all these works are quantifiable, meaning their true expenses can be precisely calculated.
Despite these concerns, Anto Augustine, RBC’s managing director, has consistently maintained that the stadium upgrade will involve an investment of ₹70 crore.
It’s important to note that the sponsor’s involvement is strictly limited to an agreement between GCDA and SKF regarding the stadium improvements; there’s no separate direct contract between the sponsor and either agency. Pillai mentioned that the initial target for completing renovations was November 10. However, with the match now reportedly pushed to a March window (though this is yet to be officially confirmed), the immediate rush has subsided.
However, with the Indian Super League (ISL) potentially resuming by the end of the year, the stadium needs to be match-ready for the home ground team, Kerala Blasters FC, by December. The GCDA is mindful of this timeline and plans to ask the sponsor to accelerate the renovation efforts accordingly.
Pillai firmly stated that the sponsor will not be granted any exclusive rights to the stadium beyond the single international friendly match, whenever it eventually takes place. Their role is solely to ensure the stadium meets FIFA’s rigorous standards. He added that while the sponsors did attempt to secure additional long-term privileges, citing their investment, it was made clear that such arrangements are not feasible.