Hyderabad: The Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal is facing serious challenges after a private company began constructing walls around several of its gates. The company has reportedly purchased land surrounding the stadium, including roads used for entry and exit and areas previously designated for parking, and has already walled off five of the stadium’s 11 gates.The land in question originally belonged to Penguin Textiles, which acquired 46 acres from the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd. (APIIC). When Penguin Textiles shut down due to financial difficulties, its land was taken over by a bank. Of the total 46 acres, APIIC had already allotted 16 acres for the stadium. In 2019, the bank auctioned the remaining 30 acres, which a builder subsequently purchased.According to reports, the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) built the stadium on 23.5 acres. While the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) regularised a portion of this land, the builder is now erecting walls to secure the remaining 22.5 acres.Sources say the company did not obtain official permission for the construction. The HCA has yet to issue a response.