In response to the tragic crowd crush outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in June 2025, which claimed 11 lives and injured over 50 people, the Karnataka government has approved the construction of a massive new cricket stadium in Bengaluru’s Bommasandra area. The upcoming venue will have a seating capacity of 80,000, making it the second-largest cricket stadium in India after the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The decision comes after a government-appointed commission led by Justice John Michael D’Cunha declared the Chinnaswamy Stadium unsafe for large-scale events. The report highlighted serious flaws in crowd management, exit design, and infrastructure, noting that the stadium’s limited space and outdated layout could not safely handle the scale of modern cricket gatherings.
The new stadium will be built on 100 acres of land in Surya City, Bommasandra—significantly larger than the Chinnaswamy’s 17-acre footprint. With an estimated budget of ₹1,650 crore, funded entirely by the Karnataka Housing Board, the facility will not only focus on cricket but also cater to other sports and recreational needs. Plans include eight indoor and eight outdoor sports arenas, a high-performance training centre, a fully equipped gym, a swimming pool, a guest house, a hostel, a hotel, and a convention centre. The integrated design aims to create a comprehensive sports hub comparable to the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy.
Safety is a core priority in the design, with enhanced crowd circulation pathways, advanced surveillance systems, and modern access control. The larger footprint will allow for more entry and exit points, reducing the risk of bottlenecks that contributed to the Chinnaswamy incident. Seating will be designed to ensure optimal viewing angles while maintaining smooth evacuation routes in case of emergencies.
The project also aligns with Bengaluru’s ambition to host high-profile international matches, ICC events, and large-scale entertainment shows without compromising spectator safety. With Chinnaswamy now deemed unfit for such gatherings, the new stadium will ensure the city remains a prime destination on the global cricket map.
This development is more than just an expansion in seating capacity—it’s a statement of intent to combine modern sports infrastructure with rigorous safety standards. The Karnataka government’s move reflects both a tribute to the passion of cricket fans and a commitment to ensuring such tragedies never happen again.
Once complete, the Bommasandra stadium will stand as a symbol of resilience and forward planning—transforming Bengaluru’s sporting landscape while setting new benchmarks for safety, capacity, and multi-use functionality in India’s stadium design.