Kochi: Consultants have been invited for the roof maintenance works of Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kaloor here. The stadium comes under the authority of Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) which has invited applications for consultants.

According to official explanation, the consultants will estimate the expense for maintenance works of the stadium roof including painting and replacing of corroded parts and supervise the works.

10 years back, the roof was constructed spending Rs 10 crore. GCDA had then claimed the roof was made of high corrosion and oxidation resistant Galvalume sheets. The construction was done by Chennai-based Lloyds International which had constructed the roof for stadiums in Mumbai and Guwahati. The truss work of the roof was completed using thousand tons of MS Steel pipes.

The work started in 2007 was expected to be completed in 10 months. However, it was completed only in 2010. Meanwhile, a frame of the roof collapsed and many of the international matches of cricket and football was lost. Now again if the stadium is closed for maintenance works and fail to reopen within the stipulated time, more matches will be affected.

DCDA Chairman VA Saleem said that the truss work of the roof has rusted and painting faded. The presence of salt in the atmosphere has affected the steel work. Consultants are required to prepare the estimate for the maintenance works, he added.