Bhubaneswar, March 10, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday inaugurated multiple sports projects that will play a significant role in the holistic development of sports in Sundargarh district, which is reputed for producing many national and international-level players.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Patnaik inaugurated the Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium Complex in Rourkela and three hockey training centres in Bisra, Lahunipara and Manchmara.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Inaugurating the projects, the Chief Minister said that Sundargarh has been a backbone of sports in Odisha. Not just hockey, it has produced players of repute in athletics and many other disciplines, he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The projects launched today will enable us to collectively nurture a large spectrum of sports talent from this district and the nearby regions," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Birsa Munda Athletic Stadium complex in Rourkela features an athletics stadium with a 400m synthetic athletic track and a natural turf football field with floodlights. The stadium has four galleries with a seating capacity of more than 9,000 spectators, including seating arrangements for differently-abled people.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The complex also houses an indoor swimming pool along with players' changing rooms and allied facilities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The complex is spread over 11 acres with a total project cost of over Rs 148 crore.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The hockey training centres have Category 3 FIH certified synthetic hockey turf with changing room for players, admin room, gymnasium, first-aid room with a total project cost of over Rs 11 crore spent per centre.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The complex is spread over 11 acres with a total project cost of over Rs 148 crore.<\/p>\r\n\r\n