Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Riverfront is set to get a dedicated pickleball centre, with the civic body planning an eight-court facility on the western bank of the river.
The Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (SRFDCL), on behalf of the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC), has invited bids to develop and operate a High Performance Pickleball Centre on a 7,000-square-metre plot behind the National Institute of Design (NID).The facility will be developed under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Maintain (DBFOM) model, with a private operator responsible for construction and operations.
The centre will have at least eight national- and international-standard courts, tournament-grade lighting, warm-up areas and spectator seating. It will also feature coaching and high-performance training facilities, sports science and recovery services, physiotherapy, changing rooms, first-aid facilities, a café or food court and parking for at least 50 cars.
The facility will not be limited to professional players. Residents will be able to use the courts through a pay-and-play system, while the venue will also be equipped to host professional tournaments and other competitive events.An SRFDCL official said the project is being planned in view of the growing popularity of pickleball among youngsters.
The centre is also expected to provide regular players with a more accessible alternative to private courts.Under the tender conditions, the selected operator will have to invest at least Rs 1.5 crore in developing the facility before starting commercial operations. The initial lease period will be eight years, with an option to extend it by another four years, subject to approvals.
The operator will pay SRFDCL a minimum guaranteed annual payment of Rs 7 lakh, excluding applicable taxes.
This amount will rise by 10% every three years. Revenue sharing will begin from the second year, increasing from 10% in Year 2 to 16% in Year 8. If the lease is extended, SRFDCL will receive 25% of the gross revenue during Years 9 to 12.
The selected operator will get a three-month moratorium after receiving the Letter of Allotment to complete the development and make the centre operational.
At the end of the lease, the operator will have to dismantle the structures and return the plot to SRFDCL in its original condition.