Bhubaneswar: The work of the Indoor Athletics centre, stated to be the first of a kind in the country, is nearing completion at the Kalinga Stadium Sports Complex in Bhubaneswar. The Odisha government expects to complete the project by December.
This centre is South Asia’s largest indoor athletics stadium, official sources said. The indoor athletics stadium features a 200m athletics track with a seating gallery for 2,000 spectators.
It has an 80m plus 20m running track and areas for pole vault, shot put, long jump and high jump, weight training centre, players accommodation, 60 twin-sharing rooms and lounges to be utilised during competitions.
The facility can host national and international athletic events, providing a major boost for the development of athletics in India.
The facility has provision of residential accommodation for more than 100 athletes for full-time coaching, sources said.
Sports and Youth Services Secretary R Vineel Krishna was quoted by TOI as saying that the Indoor Athletics Centre is in advanced stage and will be inaugurated in December, this year.
While construction of the stadium is already over, representatives of World Athletics Federation are likely to certify the stadium in the first week of December.
The athletics stadium will help athletes train throughout the year without any external disturbances or hindrances.