Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 26: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Tuesday gave nod to the construction of state-of-art Stadia one each at Srinagar and Jammu by converting the Bakshi Stadium Srinagar and MA Stadium Jammu into the modern international standard sports facility.
While receiving presentation on a proposal to this effect at a high level meeting here today, the Chief Minister said that Rs 200 crores special package for the development of sports infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir approved by the Central Government should be taken best advantage of developing sports facilities of the international standard.
Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Sports, Raman Bhalla, Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretaries, B R Sharma and B B Vyas, Commissioner Secretary Youth Services and Sports, Khursheed Ahmad, Secretary State Sports Council, Dalip Thusoo and various other officers were present in the meeting.
The Chief Minister said that there is urgent need of upgrading the existing sports facilities in the cities and at the towns of the State so that youth are provided ample opportunities to excel and bring laurels to the State in different sports activities. He said the special package to develop the two existing sports stadia at Srinagar and Jammu into modern sports facility will go a long way to boost sports activities and nurture the talent.
Minister for Sports, Raman Bhalla said that the State Government has given full attention to upgrade sports facilities in the State during the last about six years. He said dozens of sports fields and stadia have been constructed and many more are in various stages of execution.
Bhalla said that necessary attention is also being paid to develop sports at village and block levels. He said nurturing young talent in different sports is a focused area and various measures have been initiated in this direction.
In a PowerPoint presentation, the Secretary J & K State Sports Council, Dalip Thusoo said that under the reconstruction of Bakshi Stadium on international specifications an amount of Rs 80 crores is being expended. He said reconstruction of entire stadia with RCC framed structure, tensile structure roofing over stands and pavilion and 3-tier seating pattern with chairs has been proposed. He further said the state-of-the-art sports facility at Bakshi Stadium will consist of 10 lane synthetic Athletic track, seating capacity for 40,000 chairs, sports hostel for 50 inmates, upgradation of indoor stadium with maple wood flooring, HVAC changing rooms and sanitation facility besides renovation of basement, halls and exterior development.
The Chief Minister directed for developing water sports centre at Mansbal for which Rs 2 crores are proposed. He said two multi-purpose indoor sports halls in North and two in South Kashmir should also be constructed at a cost of Rs 4 crores each.
The Chief Minister was apprised that the reconstruction of MA Stadium involving Rs 75 crores envisages reconstruction of the stadium with RCC framed structure, tensile structure roofing and seating arrangement for 40,000 people in 3-tiers with chairs, sports hostel for 500 inmates and facility for other games.
The Chief Minister approved multi-purpose indoor sports halls at Kathua, Doda, Reasi, Bhour Camp and upgradation of sports facilities at Poonch and Rajouri.
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