Jammu, December 12: With the repair work going on at the MA Stadium, the state administration has shifted the venue for the upcoming Republic Day function to the Jammu University football ground. It has left the locals disappointed due to the space crunch at the new venue.
The MA Stadium has remained the main venue for the Republic Day celebrations for decades.
Sources told media that the venue was shifted to the Jammu University as the authorities had no other option available.
The onus lies mainly on the state administration as the authorities were aware of the repair work in progress at the MA Stadium for the past 10 months, but no alternate arrangement was made in advance for the Republic Day celebrations.
The MA Stadium has a vast area of more than 26,000 square metres in addition to the stands, which can host around 20,000 to 25,000 people at a time. The field area used to be reserved for the parade contingents, who had enough space to perform without getting disturbed by people around.
However, only 7,000 people can attend the celebrations at the Jammu University football ground and others will have to stay back home and watch it on television.
“We were informed by the state government about reserving the playground for the main Republic Day function. The playground has dimensions of 200 x 120 metres, which can be used for the function,” Dauood Iqbal, director, physical education, Jammu University, told media.
In February this year, the construction of a new pavilion block and the repair work of stands began at the MA Stadium. Since then the National Building Construction Corporation has been carrying out the work there, but it will take much more time to complete it.
