Odisha state cabinet allots Rs 4,000 crore to build block-level stadiums

The Odisha government announced plans to construct stadiums in all 314 administrative blocks of the state, with the state cabinet approving Rs 4,124 crore for the initiative. Each block-level stadium will feature facilities for football, cricket, athletics, volleyball, kabaddi, and kho-kho, alongside an indoor hall equipped for badminton, table tennis, gymnastics, weightlifting, and gymnasium activities, informed CM Mohan Majhi on Saturday.

The CM, in his address to the media, stated that the project was aimed at identifying and nurturing sporting talent and providing multi-sport infrastructure at the grassroots level. The move also aligns with the state’s push to bolster sports development and create pathways for future champions.

“One stadium will be developed in each block of Odisha and existing stadiums will be upgraded. A deadline of 5 years for completion of the project has been fixed,” added the CM.

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The announcement was part of 11 projects cleared by the cabinet, including three under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project-III (DRIP-III). In the same interaction, CM Majhi shared that the project will be developed on Rs 1,066.38 crore in funding from the World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Further, the DRIP-III project will focus on enhancing the Hirakud Dam’s safety with plans for constructing an additional spillway, conducting underwater and aerial surveys, and automating gate operations using a remote-controlled SCADA system to improve flood management and dam longevity.

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Separately, the cabinet greenlit the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana, a housing scheme targeting 225,000 families over three years. Eligible beneficiaries will receive Rs 1.2 lakh per unit to build 25-square-metre homes. The initiative complements existing programs like the PM Awas Yojana and PM-JANMAN.