Bhubaneswar, Aug 9 (FN Representative) Odisha cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday approved construction of 89 multipurpose indoor stadiums under ‘’urban sports infrastructure development project” in the state. Chief Secretary S C Mohapatra told newspersons after the cabinet meeting that the construction of the stadiums will be completed within 18 months at a project cost of Rs 693.35 crore to give a major boost for the development of sports in the state.
The indoor stadiums, he said, are proposed to be constructed in 89 locations in different ULBs where such facilities are not available currently. As per the direction of the Chief Minister the stakeholders meetings conducted with representatives and sports persons in all these locations and the facilities and design had been made based on these discussions. The stadiums will have facilities for playing badminton, table tennis, weightlifting, yoga and gymnasium. These indoor hall space could also be used for most of the indoor games and could be converted as per the local popularity of various indoor sports. The indoor stadiums are also designed to withstand wind speed of 200 KM per hour and could be utilised as community shelters during natural calamities like cyclones and floods. During the pandemic period, the stadium can be converted into a 50 bedded or 100 bedded field covid hospital. These stadiums could be utilised for imparting trainings, meetings and examination centres, the Chief Secretary said