In a first of its kind initiative in the national Capital, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will construct the city’s first international standard ice skating rink at its sports complex in Sector-23, Dwarka. This is expected to be ready by October this year. Spread over 4,200 sqm, the facility will feature a 60m x 30m rink and aims to promote niche winter sports and offer a new indoor recreational space in the Capital.
This will mark a significant boost to Delhi’s sports infrastructure and recreational offerings. This would also serve the dual purpose of providing recreational avenues to the people of Delhi, besides creating a state of the art infrastructure for training of sports enthusiasts.
The Ice Skating Rink is being developed within the cloverleaf at the Dwarka Sports Complex. Strategically located along the Urban Extension Road (UER), it lies close to the junction of the Dwarka Expressway and the airport tunnel connecting Sector-21, Dwarka to Terminal 3 of IGI Airport. Spread over 4,200 sqm, the facility will
feature a 60m x 30m rink and associated infrastructure as per international standards. The site has been handed over to the selected agency and the project is expected to be started shortly. It will be executed on a licence fee basis for 15 years. The agency will be responsible for construction and operations of the facility by forming JV/SPV with international partners.
The development comes just days after DDA shortlisted an agency for operation of hot air balloon rides at four locations across the city — Asita, Baansera, Yamuna Sports Complex, and Commonwealth Games Village Sports Complex.
This will also be for the first time that hot air balloon rides will be made available to the people allowing them to experience Delhi from a different perspective.
“With growing interest in niche sports such as Ice Hockey, Ice Skating, Figure Skating and Curling across India, the Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena had directed DDA officials to explore the possibilities of creating such facility in Delhi itself. It was observed that spaces in the National Capital for the enthusiasts to train, participate, and for organisers to host events in these sporting activities remain limited and hence it was decided to create an Ice Skating Ring,” according to a statement from the DDA.
“The upcoming facility aims to bridge this gap by providing a dedicated arena for these sports. Additionally, given Delhi’s long and intense summer months, the Ice Skating Rink will serve as a unique indoor recreational destination, offering a climate-controlled environment,” it added.
According to the plan, the Sector 8 complex will host a CoE for wrestling, boxing, judo and karate, while Sector 19 will focus on tennis and shooting. The Sector 23 complex will have facilities for hockey and football.
DDA has two sports complexes in Dwarka sectors 11 and 17, and five others are in various stages of construction in sectors 23, 8, 19, 19B and Rohini Sector 33. All these are expected to be completed by the end of the year. DDA currently has 16 sports complexes, three mini-sports complexes, two public golf courses, 17 swimming pools and 40 multi-gyms. Centres of excellence are being developed in many sports such as wrestling, weightlifting, boxing, judo, kabaddi, tennis, shooting, football and hockey in various Dwarka sectors and a centre of excellence in aquatics in Rohini Sector 33.