A startling revelation from a Right to Information (RTI) application has exposed that the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) has failed to collect outstanding rent amounting to nearly Rs 3 crore from tenants operating within Coimbatore's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium complex.
Massive Revenue Shortfall Exposed
The RTI response uncovered that approximately 80 commercial establishments spread across a vast 1,35,000 square feet area within the stadium complex collectively generate close to Rs 1 crore in monthly revenue. Despite this substantial income potential, the authority has accumulated significant rent arrears over an extended period.
SDAT officials acknowledged that many shops had been paying minimal rents previously, contributing to the accumulation of pending dues. The situation prompted the authority to implement rent revisions and initiate measures to recover the outstanding amounts.
Authority's Response and Recovery Efforts
J Meghanatha Reddy, Member Secretary of SDAT, addressed the issue stating, "We have initiated measures and collected most of the outstanding rents before the revision of rents as per norms." He assured that the current outstanding rents would be collected promptly, emphasizing that "the money collected from the commercial outlets will be used for the welfare of the athletes."
The RTI data revealed specific outstanding amounts from prominent tenants, including Government Museum with Rs 62,799 pending and Co-optex owing Rs 1,11,298. These figures represent just a fraction of the total Rs 3 crore deficit affecting sports infrastructure development.
Activists Demand Better Fund Utilization
M Loganathan, the RTI activist who filed the application, expressed concern about the mismanagement. "The revenue from the commercial outlets in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium could be used for sports and sportspersons in the city," he stated.
Loganathan highlighted the poor maintenance of the football ground inside the stadium as evidence of how the uncollected funds could have been utilized. He urged authorities to take necessary steps to collect the outstanding rent and ensure transparent allocation of these resources specifically for athlete welfare and infrastructure improvement.
The situation raises serious questions about financial management in sports infrastructure and the potential impact on athletic development in the region, particularly when substantial revenue streams remain untapped.
