Two bids to develop stadium for Bengaluru U-17 WC’s bid

Bengaluru, July 17: Two consortiums, led by Tuscan Consultants and Developers Private Limited and Ozone Group Football Academy Pvt Ltd, have submitted bids to reconstruct and develop the football stadium here as the city hopes to host matches of the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

The Tuscan-led consortium has submitted a consolidated fincial proposal of Rs.525 crore and the Ozone Group has made a proposal of Rs.675 crore, according to Kartaka State Football Association president A.R. Khaleel here Friday.

The KSFA unimously accepted the bids and will recommend to the Kartaka government for its approval to reconstruct and redevelop the stadium.

The construction of the stadium had started in 1967 with authorities planning an ambitious facility to match Brazil’s iconic Maraca Stadium that hosted last year’s World Cup fil, but over the years, the project limped along and at one time resembled an ancient ruin.

“The Tender Scrutiny and Evaluation Committee set up by us unimously accepted the bid of a consortium comprising Ozone Group Football Academy Private Limited and Hines India Real Estate Private Limited, and unimously decided to recommend to the government of Kartaka for approval of reconstructing and redeveloping Bangalore Football Stadium to host U-17 World Cup,” Khaleel said in a statement.

Earlier, Bengaluru had all but lost its bid to host the U-17 World Cup matches in view of the sorry state of the stadium that was somewhat refurbished by the owners of Bengaluru FC I-League team, JSW Bengaluru Football Club Pvt Ltd.

In June this year, FIFA representative and Tourment Director Javier Ceppi, during a visit to the city, had said that unless some developmental work started on a new stadium, Bengaluru stood little chance of hosting the U-17 World Cup matches.

To this end, a committee was set up comprising of members of the core committee of the KSFA, and representatives of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahagar Palike, the city’s local council.

“The legal and fincial advisers of KSFA examined the technical bids submitted by the said entities, and evaluated the bids in the background of compliance with technical criteria, as set out under the tender notification dated June 8, 2015, and the tender documents,” Khaleel said. IANS