Broken windows, stolen furniture and locked gates of the Games Tower are a familiar sight for all those who are regulars to the Gachibowli Sports Complex.
For, ever since the 13-storeyed building came up at a cost of Rs.70 crore in 2007 for the World Military Games (WMG), the entire complex is more or less locked and unused.
In neglect
So, not surprisingly this structure - a symbol of neglect and indifference - is all set to top the agenda of a critical review meeting of sports to be chaired by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on July 30.
Interestingly, the SAAP officials are keen to issue fresh tenders for leasing out the complex with a view to generating adequate revenue and also to ensure its utility value.
It may be recalled that in 2008 a similar process had begun to give it to a hotel group but lost its way for reasons best known to the authorities.
“We are going to seek the permission of the Chief Minister to issue fresh tenders. Once we get the nod, we will work out the modalities,” Sashi Bhushan Kumar, VC & MD of Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh, told The Hindu .
Maintenance
For the record, the government spends about Rs. 1.50 crore per annum on maintenance of all the stadia in the city that come under the purview of SAAP.
Well, even the SAAP has been paying Rs. 40 lakh as interest for the Rs. 48 crore loan taken from a nationalised bank for the completion of this Games Tower.
Additional expenditure
The other worrying factor is the faulty design too, as rectifying it would mean an additional expenditure of Rs. 20 crore. “However, the priority right now is how to go ahead with leasing the tower even while ensuring that SAAP retains enough space in the complex for itself,” he said.
