Chennai: Tambaram corporation has announced plans to build a modern sports arena near the Tambaram-Maduravoyal Bypass at a cost of ₹40 crore. The facility will come up on nine acres of land acquired by the corporation and is expected to become one of the largest public sports complexes in the city.The proposed arena will include a full-sized football turf with spectator galleries, an athletics track-and-field arena, professional tennis courts, badminton courts, volleyball courts, pickleball courts, a modern swimming pool, a skating track, a gymnasium, a children’s play area, and landscaped walking spaces. The complex will have a seating capacity of 4,000, enabling it to host district and state-level sporting events.Corporation officials said the project aims to promote sports, fitness, and recreation among local residents while creating opportunities for athletes to train and compete at a professional level. The facility is expected to serve students, sportspersons, fitness enthusiasts, and families across the corporation limits.Earlier this year, the corporation announced its annual budget with revenue estimated at ₹1,447 crore and expenditure at ₹1,445 crore. As part of its efforts to encourage youth participation in sports, the corporation allocated ₹32.7 crore for sports infrastructure projects. These include ₹18.4 crore for indoor and outdoor stadiums, ₹2.8 crore for badminton courts, ₹2.2 crore for kabaddi courts, ₹57 lakh for pickleball courts and ₹7.9 crore for green-turf playgrounds in all zones.Officials said the new sports arena will be developed through the corporation’s capital budget and is separate from the sports infrastructure allocation announced earlier.Corporation commissioner S Balachander said the civic body’s primary focus is on improving education and sports facilities. He said that the corporation already has 15 badminton courts and 13 pickleball courts. “With the new sports complex, Tambaram will become a hub for both indoor and outdoor sports. It will also provide a positive space for young people and help keep them away from harmful habits such as drug use,” he said.