Bhubaneswar: Mo Bus services will be launched in Odisha’s Rourkela city which will co-host FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup-2023 in January.
It was decided at the meeting of the State Council of Ministers held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday. Informing about the decisions taken at the meeting, Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra said all departments are working in coordination with each other for beautification and infrastructure facilities in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela which will host the Hockey World Cup.
As part of this efforts, regular flight services will be started from Rourkela airport and city transport launched in the Steel City. The Mo Bus services will be started with introduction of a fleet of 100 buses initially, said Mahapatra.
Speaking on infrastructure development in Rourkela for the mega event, he said Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium would be completed by the end of November. The astroturf and floodlight facilities in both Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar and Birsa Munda Stadium have been completed, he said adding that construction work of 225 rooms for stay of players of participating teams and match officials will also be completed by November-end.
The hockey world cup would be celebrated in 5 municipalities while the Hockey World Cup trophy will be exhibited in all districts in the state. Various promotional programmes will be organised at district-level with participation of school and college students, the chief secretary said.
The matches of the Hockey World Cup would be played in the two cities from January 13 to 29 next year. While 16 teams will participate in the prestigious world tournament, 24 matches will be played in Bhubaneswar and 20 in Rourkela.
