As India pushes forward with its bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics, a report claims land from controversial ashrams in Ahmedabad may be acquired for building Olympic infrastructure, including the Sardar Patel Sports Enclave.
March 27, 2025: India’s ambitions to host the 2036 Summer Olympics are gaining momentum, with a new report suggesting that land from three religious ashrams, including one belonging to convicted godman Asaram Bapu, could be repurposed to build Olympic infrastructure in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
According to a Times of India report, the Gujarat government, under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, has begun land acquisition processes for a 650-acre Olympic project that includes the Sardar Patel Sports Enclave, an Olympic Village, and other state-of-the-art sports facilities. This land lies in close proximity to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera.
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Ashrams Under the Radar
The land under consideration reportedly includes properties belonging to:
- Sant Shree Asaram Ashram
- Bhartiya Seva Samaj
- Sadashiv Pragya Mandal
The report states that the government is looking to provide alternative sites or compensation to the trusts that currently occupy the land. In the case of Sadashiv Pragya Mandal, a request to retain certain structures on-site has been made, and the government may accommodate this within the master plan, pending cooperation.
Massive Investment in the Works
This update follows an earlier report that estimated the total cost of hosting the Olympics in India could range between ₹34,700 crore and ₹64,000 crore, which surpasses the ₹32,765 crore expenditure for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The detailed blueprint reportedly includes the development of facilities across Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Goa, Mumbai, and Pune, positioning India as a serious contender on the global Olympic stage.
India had submitted its Letter of Intent to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in October 2024, expressing its keen interest in hosting the prestigious event.
However, India faces stiff competition, with more than 10 countries, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, also eyeing the 2036 Games. The final decision on the host nation is expected no earlier than 2026.
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2036 Olympics, Asaram Bapu, Olympic Village, Ahmedabad, Gujarat News, Indian Olympics Bid, Narendra Modi Stadium, Asaram Ashram, Gujarat Government, IOA, Olympics India, Sports Infrastructure