“Ninety-five percent of the renovation work has been completed. The roofing work and maintenance of stands and shops at the complex are over. What remains is minor repair work and maintenance of flood lights,” said Joby George, managing partner of Godson engineering, sub-contractors of Lloyd Insulations.

“We will be handing over the stadium to the GCDA by November end or December first week,” he said.

Lloyd Insulations undertook the roofing work of the stadium almost three and half years ago for an estimated cost of Rs 10.5 crore. The work, which began two years ago, went beyond several revised schedules. November 2009 was the latest deadline set by the GCDA for the company to complete the renovation work. Sources with Lloyd Insulations said that the delay was due to the steep rise in prices of construction materials. “We signed the contract three-and-a-half years ago. But the cost of raw materials and labour charges have increased. So far we have spent almost Rs 15 crore for the renovation work,” sources added. Due to the inordinate delay, Kochi lost One- Day International Cricket matches that would have been held here under the rotation policy of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

GCDA chairperson M C Josephine said that before opening the stadium to the public, GCDA wants to replace the chairs to give the stadium a whole new look. “We will invite tenders for turfing work within a month.

After finishing all the work we will allot the stadium for regional, national and international sporting events.

We are hoping to complete the entire work within six months,” Josephine added.