World-class sports valley coming up in Bhubaneswar

The Odisha government will set up a world-class sports infrastructure in the capital city of Bhubaneswar. As per sources, the Odisha government will construct a mega sports valley in 150 acres of land on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar in the Gothapatna area.

The project will be reportedly built with an estimated budget of more than Rs 1,000 crore. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will conduct the ‘Bhumi Pujan’ (land worship) of the ultra-modern sports infrastructure on September 17.

Modern facilities for various sports disciplines like an indoor velodrome for cycling, an amphitheatre, a fitness track of five km, an archery stadium and high-performance centres for different sports disciplines will be built within the sports valley/fitness valley. As per sources, the stadium will be larger and more attractive than the Kalinga Stadium.

“Odisha government will set up a sports valley or fitness valley at Gothapatna area in Bhubaneswar and allocation has been made for it in the budget. The sportspersons coming out from the sports hostels with excellence need further exposure and the sports valley will provide it to them,” said Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.

Notably, the Odisha government has allocated Rs 1,315 crore in the State budget for sports infrastructure. Moreover, Rs 952 crore has been provided for the management of sports and development of sports infrastructure in the State.

Meanwhile, a badminton academy named as ‘The Shuttle’ has already been set up at the Kalinga Stadium. The academy has eight badminton courts and a gallery with a spectator capacity of 500. Hostel facilities with 80 seats each for both male and female shuttlers will be provided in the academy. Dalmia Bharat has built the stadium in an area of four acres with an expenditure of Rs 100 crore from its CSR fund.

“We have already constructed the bottom portion and the projection lights have been installed. It looks like a flying shuttle at night,” said Dalmia Bharat project head Soumya Mohapatra.

“We have planned to complete the project and hand it over in the next 10-15 days. Hopefully, it will be inaugurated on September 17,” said project head Manas Senapati.