Unprecedented Power Outage Hits Raipur Cricket Stadium Just Before IND vs AUS T20I Clash

An outstanding bill of Rs 3.16 crore has resulted in the electricity connection at Raipur’s Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium being cut for five years. The stadium will host the crucial fourth T20I clash between India and Australia today, but parts of the venue are without electricity due to the unpaid bill since 2009.

A temporary connection was installed at the request of the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Association, but it only supplies electricity to the spectators’ gallery and boxes. In the absence of proper electricity, a generator will be used to manage the floodlights during the match.

In 2018, athletes participating in a half-marathon were surprised to find no electricity supply at the stadium. It was revealed that the bill had not been paid since 2009 and amounted to ₹ 3.16 crore.

 

After the stadium’s construction, the Public Works Department (PWD) took over maintenance responsibilities while the remaining expenses were to be covered by the Sports Department. The two departments have been blaming each other for the unpaid electricity bill that led to the power cut.

Despite several notices from the power company to clear the dues, no payment has been made yet.

 

Three international cricket matches have been played in the stadium since the power connection was cut in 2018.

 

Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh media coordinator Tarunesh Singh Parihar expressed doubts about hosting cricket matches due to the critical problems faced. He mentioned that generators are used as an alternative arrangement for big matches.