Rourkela: In the run-up to the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup-2023 to be co-hosted by Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra along with senior officials on Thursday reviewed the field level progress of the construction of Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium and airport in the Steel City.
The high-level team including Secretary, Sports and Youth Services department R Vineel Krishna and Managing Director of Idco Bhupendra Singh Poonia visited the under-construction stadium on the premises of Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) and reviewed the ongoing infrastructure development and city beautification projects.
Speaking to the media following the visit, Mahapatra said the officials have been directed to complete the construction work of the stadium by November 30. “The stadium work is in its last phase. It would be opened for practice matches soon after the completion. Parking lots, drinking water, lavatories and other facilities for the spectators are being developed now,” he added.
On the expansion of Rourkela airport, he said it is likely to be completed by November 30. Charter flights would operate between Bhubaneswar and Rourkela for the benefit of the players and spectators during the hockey world cup.
Sundargarh district collector Gavali Parag Harshad, Rourkela Additional Collector Shubhankar Mahapatra and other senior officials of the district administration were present at the review meeting.
It may be noted that the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup will be held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar and Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela from January 13 to 29 next year.
Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, claimed to be the largest hockey stadium in the country, is targeted to accommodate around 20,000 spectators. It is being constructed with a budget of around Rs 300 crore.