The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) will hand over the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kaloor to the Sports Kerala Foundation (SKF), functioning under the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, to facilitate infrastructural enhancements ahead of the international friendly match featuring World Cup champions Argentina in November.
SKF formally submitted the request to GCDA on Wednesday (September 24, 2025).
Inspection carried out
Hector Daniel Cabrera, venue manager of the Argentina Football Association (AFA), visited Kochi and conducted an inspection of the stadium’s facilities and security arrangements, accompanied by Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman on Tuesday.
GCDA has already undertaken maintenance work worth over ₹5 crore, including painting, repairing floodlight frames, and other structural improvements. However, drainage work outside the stadium under ‘Operation Breakthrough’ is yet to commence. Additionally, sections of the leaking roof have been sealed, and dangling cables will be routed through dedicated cable trays.
“SKF will carry out the necessary infrastructure upgrades based on a detailed plan, subject to our approval. Traders operating in the shops surrounding the stadium will need to be temporarily relocated or shut down, although the specifics are yet to be finalised,” said GCDA sources.
P.R. Jijikumar, president of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium Shop Owners Association, said that no official notice has been received from the GCDA regarding the arrangements. “Typically, we are required to close our shops during international matches. It has not yet been decided how many days we will need to remain closed. We are scheduled to meet the GCDA chairman on Monday to discuss the matter,” he said.
Informally, it is understood that shops may need to remain closed for at least three days. Traders had previously sought legal recourse when asked to shut down for over a month during the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2017.
SKF officials said that all work must be completed on a war footing latest by November 10. “The upgrades will be executed in coordination with Reporter Broadcasting Company (RBC), the sponsors of Argentina’s visit to Kochi, along with the Kerala Football Association and the All India Football Federation. Special enclosures for VIPs and improvements to the spectator gallery may be required,” sources added.
Anto Augustine, managing director of RBC, said that the AFA venue manager was more or less satisfied with the condition of the turf, although minor enhancements are required. “We are in the process of finalising a comprehensive checklist of safety and security protocols,” he added.
