Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday launched sports projects worth more than Rs 120 crore for Odisha’s Sambalpur, through video conference.
He inaugurated Burla indoor stadium and laid foundation stone of Sambalpur Football Academy and Sambalpur University sports complex, which will include a hockey stadium.
Praising the sports culture in Sambalpur, the CM expressed hope that these facilities will further strengthen development of sports in the district. He also mentioned that Sambalpur Football Academy is being established to provide top quality coaching and competition facilities for the local talents, considering its popularity in the district.
“Aligned with the vision of Chief Minister, ‘Sports for youth, youth for future’, these projects have been undertaken under the 5T initiative with the aim to benefit the people, especially the youth of Sambalpur,” a CMO release said.
5T and Nabin Odisha chairman V K Pandian coordinated the programme, which was attended by Sports and Youth Services Minister Tusharkanti Behera, Rairakhol MLA Rohit Pujari, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Sports and Youth Services Secretary R Vineel Krishna, Collector Sambalpur Ananya Das and other officials from MCL, district administration and players.
Burla Indoor Stadium
It features four badminton courts and a seating capacity for over 400 spectators. The centralised AC facility also has players’ changing rooms, a first aid room, a gym, and multipurpose halls that can accommodate other indoor games such as carom, chess, fencing, etc. The playing arena is well-equipped with wooden synthetic flooring and BWF recommended sports lighting system to provide an international experience to the players.
The stadium has been built at a cost of Rs 32 crore, of which MCL has contributed Rs 10.35 crore and Government of India Rs 7.5 crore.
Sports Complex at Sambalpur University
The upcoming sports complex will have a hockey stadium with a Category 1 FIH certified synthetic hockey turf, FIH recommended sports lighting system and a gallery that can accommodate around 3000 spectators, including seating for differently-abled people. Additionally, the hockey stadium will have players’ facilities, gymnasium and dignitary seating. It will also have a 1000-seater multipurpose indoor stadium, with an arena of BWF standard badminton courts, which will accommodate volleyball, basketball, kho kho and various indoor sports like table tennis and combat sports. The multipurpose indoor stadium will feature a fitness centre, a dedicated weightlifting hall, offices, coach rooms, and a medical room. It will be equipped to host regional level competitions.
The state government is investing Rs 70 crore in this project.
Sambalpur Football Academy
It will feature a FIFA-sized natural turf with floodlight system, as well as a facility building with a gallery that can accommodate 1000 spectators. The football Academy will include players’ changing rooms, a first aid room, a multipurpose hall, and spectator toilets. Additionally, the campus will have a kabaddi court.
The government is investing Rs 17 crore in this project.
