Kerala has cleared a major regulatory hurdle for a new international cricket stadium near Cochin International Airport, advancing the Kerala Cricket Association’s plans for a 40,000-seat venue and wider Sports City development. According to a report by The Times of India, the state government has given KCA final clearance to secure 25 acres of land at Nedumbassery for the project, which is expected to cost ₹450 crore (approx. US$47 million).
The proposed stadium will be developed in Chengamanad village along the national highway, before Athani junction in the direction of Thrissur. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already approved the selected site, while construction is expected to be completed within three years of work commencing.
Government clearance moves stadium plans forward
The Agriculture Department has cleared 10.13 hectares in Chengamanad village, Aluva taluk, close to Cochin International Airport. The approval was granted under Section 10(2) of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008, with the development classified as a public-purpose project.
The clearance also draws on the Kerala Sports Policy 2023, Kerala Sports Act 2025 and Kerala Sports Infrastructure Development Scheme 2025, providing the regulatory framework for the land to be used for the proposed development.
Confirming the decision, a Revenue Department official said, “The approval for converting 25 acres of paddy land at Nedumbassery for a new international cricket stadium, by including it under the sports infrastructure scheme, has been given. An official order in this regard is out.”
The approval represents a significant step for a project that KCA formally placed before the state government in January 2024.
KCA plans wider Sports City development
The project extends beyond the construction of an international cricket ground. KCA’s plans envisage a broader sports complex incorporating indoor and outdoor training facilities, an e-sports arena, a specialised sports medicine centre and a sports research institute.
The development has been positioned as the country’s first carbon-neutral Sports City, adding an environmental dimension to KCA’s wider infrastructure ambitions.
Its location close to Cochin International Airport also gives the proposed venue direct access to a major transport hub, an important consideration for international teams, officials and supporters travelling to matches.
KCA President Sreejith V Nair said, as quoted by Onmanorama, “The proposed stadium will provide world-class facilities for cricketers and fans. Hosting national and international matches will give a major boost to sports tourism and the state’s economy.”
Environmental safeguards shape development plans
The government clearance comes with conditions designed to protect the surrounding environment and agricultural land as the project progresses.
Natural water flow to neighbouring agricultural plots must remain uninterrupted, while the development will require advanced drainage infrastructure and compliance with applicable statutory environmental clearances. The detailed project report must also incorporate a mandatory 10% water conservation plan.
KCA Secretary Vinod S Kumar has indicated that the association will ensure construction complies with the environmental requirements included in the government order.
BCCI inspection among next steps
The project will now move toward further planning ahead of construction, with BCCI officials and members of its infrastructure committee expected to inspect the Chengamanad site. No date for that visit has yet been announced.
The stadium proposal has already secured BCCI approval for its chosen location, strengthening KCA’s efforts to establish a dedicated international-standard cricket venue in the Kochi region.
With the state clearance now secured, the focus shifts to satisfying the environmental requirements, completing detailed project planning and progressing the ₹450 crore development toward construction.
