A helicopter used by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini remained parked at Gurugram’s Tau Devi Lal Stadium for four days, preventing state-level athletes from using the athletics track and other regular training facilities, according to a report by Navbharat Times – Gurgaon.
The helicopter was stationed at the stadium while Saini was on a three-day visit to Singapore. After the chief minister returned, the aircraft transported him back to Chandigarh on Wednesday, allowing athletes to regain access to the track and training areas, the report said.
The disruption affected the stadium’s athletics track and inner synthetic field, which are used for regular practice. Athletes told Navbharat Times – Gurgaon that this was not an isolated incident, claiming that the helicopter is parked at the stadium for one or two days almost every month. The repeated closures have made it difficult for them to maintain a consistent training schedule.
The stadium’s basketball and volleyball courts can continue to be used after the helicopter is parked at its designated position. However, security protocols require the inner synthetic field and running track to be closed, restricting athletes from entering those areas while the aircraft is present.
The report places the latest disruption in the context of Haryana’s strong sporting record. Athletes from the state have contributed several medals for India at the Asian Games, while aspiring competitors continue to depend on public facilities for daily training. The temporary closure of a track can therefore affect access to a core public sports asset, particularly for athletes who do not have alternative facilities nearby.
The stadium has also been used for helicopter operations in the past. In March 2020, a cricket ground at the facility was reportedly cleared during a training session to make way for the landing of a helicopter carrying then Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
Gurugram does not have a helipad operated by the state government or the Ministry of Civil Aviation, according to the report. The city does have private landing facilities, but the report does not specify whether those locations were considered or available for the chief minister’s helicopter during the Singapore visit.
The latest incident highlights the operational conflict created when a public sports complex is used for official aviation movements. The report does not cite a statement from the Haryana government, the stadium administration or the athletes’ governing bodies on alternative arrangements or compensation for lost training time. No permanent decision on the use of the stadium for future helicopter operations was reported.
