Andhra Pradesh Commits ₹2.5 Crore to Build Pickleball Courts at Kurnool Stadium

Kurnool's Outdoor Stadium is getting its most significant infrastructure overhaul in years, with Industries and Commerce Minister T.G. Bharath laying the foundation on Thursday for a package of works that includes dedicated pickleball courts, volleyball courts with high-quality synthetic floors, and a synthetic walking track, all at a cost of ₹2.5 crore.

Bharath framed the project in personal terms, noting he used to play at the Outdoor Stadium himself before committing to its redevelopment. "These development works will be completed in three months," he said, adding that the three new facilities are being built to international standards specifically to develop the skills of local sportspersons.

The minister drew a pointed contrast with recent history: the NDA government under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is making "all-out efforts to develop sports in the State," he said, while the previous government "neglected development of sports and its infrastructure." Naidu's office has already approved the broader works package, and an IAS officer is likely to be appointed to oversee execution.

Kurnool MP Bastipati Nagaraju added financial weight to the occasion, pledging ₹15 lakhs from his MPLADS funds to develop grass within the stadium. Nagaraju also outlined a wider ambition for the C-Camp precinct, where 67 acres are available: plans include allocating 10 acres for a High Court Bench, plus a new Collectorate, a park, and additional development works at the same site.

The stadium push extends beyond the Outdoor Stadium. Bharath said a separate stadium being constructed by Greenko at the TIDCO housing complex will be completed soon, while another facility is under construction at the Summer Storage Tank. For stadia development across Kurnool more broadly, officials are seeking support from Vijayawada MP Kesineni Shivnath, who also serves as president of the Andhra Cricket Association.

KUDA Chairperson Somisetty Venkateswarlu praised Bharath for the district's development trajectory. Whether the three-month completion clock holds will be the first real test of that confidence.