The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has formulated a detailed draft policy aimed at regulating the fast-growing trend of net-covered sports facilities like box cricket and pickleball in the city. Triggered by rising popularity and mounting safety concerns&mdash;especially after a structural collapse in Surat&mdash;the policy seeks to bring all such operations under strict civic oversight.
Notably, the draft policy will be sent to the Gujarat government for further approval and then statewide implementation.&nbsp;
The initiative follows a recent incident in Surat&rsquo;s Katargam area, where a large cricket box structure caved in during heavy rains and strong winds, injuring one player and raising serious questions about the safety of such installations. While the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) responded by sealing seven unauthorised venues, AMC has now proposed its own set of measures to prevent similar incidents in Ahmedabad.
Drafted by AMC&rsquo;s Urban Development Department, the proposed policy mandates prior approval before setting up any net-covered sports facility. Applicants must engage a certified engineer or clerk of works alongside a structural engineer, and submit documentation including Police and Fire No-Objection Certificates (NOCs), permissions for commercial land use, and non-agriculture (NA) clearances when relevant.
The policy introduces a one-time licence fee for operating such facilities. For those who had prior approvals or are functioning at the time the policy takes effect, the fee is Rs 100 per square metre if the application is submitted within 30 days. In contrast, facilities constructed without any approvals will be charged Rs 200 per square metre, with the licence covering associated amenities such as food stalls and toilets.&nbsp;
This fee will increase by 5% every three years, and any further changes may be introduced at the Municipal Commissioner&rsquo;s discretion. All payments must be made under the specific AMC budget category.
The guidelines require operators to ensure that their premises do not disrupt local residents, pedestrian movement, or road traffic. Permanent structures are prohibited, and all activities must comply with the operational hours and terms laid out in their police and civic body licences. Sufficient parking facilities must be arranged, and security staff must be stationed to manage traffic flow within a 50-metre perimeter of the premises.
Permissions will be granted only for plots adjoining roads at least 12 metres wide. The height limit for net enclosures has been capped at 12 metres, and the minimum plot size must be no less than 500 square metres.&nbsp;
A minimum roadside margin of 6 metres and a side margin of 3 metres are mandatory. Construction or operations are not allowed on land designated for government, semi-government, or Town Planning (TP) roads.
At least half of the plot area must be kept aside for parking. All four sides of the playing enclosure must have at least one entry and one exit point, each with a height of no less than 2.20 metres and width of 1.20 metres to ensure safe movement. A 3-metre-high metal barricade must enclose the entire facility.
Sanitary facilities must include one toilet and urinal per 100 square metres, with separate provisions for men and women. Temporary stalls or sheds measuring no more than 3 metres by 3 metres may be permitted within the premises. High-resolution CCTV cameras must be installed to monitor entry, exit, and all corners of the premises as per police guidelines.&nbsp;
A temporary control room of similar dimensions may also be allowed.
The Commissioner retains the authority to revoke a facility&rsquo;s licence at any point should public safety be at risk.
Currently, more than 500 box cricket enclosures have sprung up across Ahmedabad, many of which are operating on vacant plots along SG Highway, the Ring Road, and near residential colonies. Built using iron mesh and rented out for Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per session, these makeshift structures have mostly gone unchecked by the authorities.
The surge in demand has prompted operators to construct taller boxes with roofing, enabling play during monsoon conditions. But such rapid expansion without oversight has initiated alarm about potential hazards during storms or heavy rainfall.
Commenting on the situation, Riddhesh Raval, Deputy Municipal Commissioner of AMC&rsquo;s Estate Department, admitted that no specific rules or standard operating procedures (SOPs) currently exist for cricket boxes. &ldquo;As of now, there are no regulations under the GDCR for constructing such setups. We have started developing dedicated guidelines that will cover every aspect, especially structural safety,&rdquo; he told a national daily.
Surat&rsquo;s Incident Prompts Strict Action
The Surat civic authority conducted inspections and shut down seven unauthorised facilities. These included Friend Box near Pramukh Darshan Society, Century Turf near Motived Bhawani Bagh, GG Box in Nani Ved, Sixer Zone Box in Singanpore, The Knock Out near Gopin Bungalows, and Maruti Cricket close to Madhavanand Ashram.
&ldquo;Many of these venues are built with poor materials and zero safety compliance. Public safety cannot be compromised,&rdquo; said an SMC official. Authorities plan to expand inspections citywide to identify further violations.
Despite repeated fire incidents and structural failures, including the TRP Gamezone fire tragedy in Rajkot, temporary structures like these continue to rise across urban Gujarat. Civic bodies often lack control mechanisms specific to such developments, though regulations exist for advertising hoardings and similar installations.
Adding to the urgency, data from Gujarat&rsquo;s Urban Development Department reveal that over 9,000 buildings across the state are deemed structurally unsafe, with Ahmedabad accounting for more than 3,000. Most of these structures are located in older parts of the city such as Dariyapur, Jamalpur, and the walled city, and are over seven decades old. Surat has flagged around 1,500 unsafe buildings, with hundreds more in Vadodara and Rajkot.
Monsoon conditions further deteriorate these fragile buildings, leading to collapses, leakages, and structural weakening. Despite frequent surveys and eviction drives, many residents remain in these unsafe structures due to a lack of affordable housing options.

Following Surat accident, Gujarat govt plans SoP to regulate sports box facilities.

AMC Drafts Policy for Box Cricket, Pickleball Venues

Following Surat accident, Gujarat govt plans SoP to regulate sports box facilities.

July 8, 2025 | 20:38 IST