Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday laid the foundation stone for a new international-standard cricket stadium at Suryanagar in Anekal taluk, a project that is expected to become India’s second-largest cricket venue after the Narendra Modi Stadium.

The upcoming stadium, located on the outskirts of Bengaluru, will have a seating capacity of around 80,000 spectators and is estimated to cost nearly Rs 943 crore. The project is being developed jointly by the Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) and the state Housing Department.

Speaking at the foundation ceremony, Siddaramaiah said the project would strengthen sports infrastructure in Karnataka while also boosting tourism, employment and local economic activity in the surrounding region.

“Until now, Bengaluru city and the state did not have an international-standard cricket stadium. Today, at an estimated cost of around Rs 943 crore, the state government is constructing an international-standard cricket stadium in Suryanagar layout in Anekal taluk,” he said.

Stadium to rival major cricket venues

The proposed venue is expected to become one of the biggest cricket stadiums in the country, second only to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which currently has a capacity of over 1 lakh spectators.

Officials said the stadium would be equipped with modern international-standard facilities and is expected to host major domestic and international cricket matches in the future.

The project comes at a time when Bengaluru’s existing M. Chinnaswamy Stadium continues to face concerns over crowd management and infrastructure limitations.

CM references Chinnaswamy Stadium tragedy

During the event, Siddaramaiah referred to the tragic stampede during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL victory celebrations in June 2025 outside Chinnaswamy Stadium, where 11 people lost their lives and several others were injured.

“You know about the Chinnaswamy Stadium. A tragedy occurred there a year ago. I realised that constructing such an international-standard cricket stadium was absolutely necessary,” the Chief Minister said.

He added that the government had already implemented recommendations made by the Justice John Michael Cunha Commission following the incident.

Economic boost expected for surrounding villages

The Chief Minister also highlighted the economic impact the stadium project is expected to generate for nearby villages and real estate markets in the region.

According to him, local residents informed him that land prices in the area had already increased significantly after the announcement of the project.

“People from your village told me that land prices, which were around Rs 1,500 per square foot earlier, have now increased to Rs 4,000-Rs 5,000 per square foot because an international stadium is coming up,” Siddaramaiah said.

He noted that the stadium would be constructed entirely using Karnataka Housing Board funds without direct financial assistance from the state government.

The KHB expects to generate nearly Rs 20,000 crore through the auction of vacant sites, which will help finance the project and related infrastructure developments.

Environmental concerns emerge

The announcement has also sparked criticism from some environmental groups and activists because of the stadium’s proximity to Bannerghatta National Park.

Organisations including the Karnataka Rajya Samithi have raised concerns over the potential impact of floodlights, traffic congestion and large crowds on wildlife habitats connected to the national park and nearby eco-sensitive zones.

The group has urged the Karnataka government to reconsider the location and release detailed environmental impact assessments before construction progresses further.