SAAP to develop sports infra in districts

Tirupati: The state government has been giving a boost to sports by allocating Rs 550 crore in every budget for the development of infrastructure, said the Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) Dr N Bangara Raju.

Speaking to the media here on Wednesday, the SAAP MD stated indoor and outdoor stadiums would be constructed in every district with coaches and other required facilities. 

He said that NTR Kreeda Vikas Kendras would make a huge impact in making sportspersons from all over the state especially in rural areas. The idea was to develop sportspersons to win Olympic medals in future. About 30 such Kendras were already completed in which four were in Chittoor district. The remaining 120 have been grounded and will be completed by October/November.

These will be entrusted to private operators under PPP mode through global bidding by SAAP. He said, in the United Andhra Pradesh, all sports infrastructure was concentrated in Hyderabad and after bifurcation there was no facilities in any of the 13 districts.

The government has appointed a committee which brought out a ‘New Sports Policy’ under which several initiatives have been planned like Project Panchajanya, Project Gandiva, Project Vijaya etc., Sports activities would be introduced for all age groups in the state to ensure ‘Happy Andhra Pradesh’, he told.

The government has been encouraging coaches also in a big way and international coaches have come to Guntur with their families to train our coaches. They would train 100 coaches here with international standards. Bangara Raju also said that government has been taking steps to provide 2 per cent quota in all direct recruitments and 6 per cent quota in educational institutions for sportspersons.

Proposals have been sent to the central government to develop SP Mahila Visva Vidyalayam (SPMVV) as centre of excellence in sports for women which would be only one in the state. To develop sports facilities at Sri Venkateswara University (SVU), a detailed project report was readied and will see that it is materialised, he stated. SETVEN CEO S Lakshmi was also present with him.