Construction of Sports Complex on the cards

Visakhapatnam: The City of Destiny would add another feather to its cap by developing a satellite township and constructing the Sports Stadium with international standards. The government has decided to handover the job to the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA).

Recently, the revenue officials, along with Special Chief Secretary for Sports LV Subrahmanyam and others visited the site at Donkada and Gandhigundam areas and said that the lands are suitable for setting up of Integrated Sports Complex.

Similarly, satellite township would be constructed at the intersection of five villages of three mandals in the district. These include Aganampudi in Gajuwaka mandal, Nanginarapadu and Gangavaram in Sabbavaram mandal and Pedamushidivada and East Marripalem in Parawada mandal. Already, tahsildars from the revenue department said that the VUDA is already conducting a land survey.

One of the members of Sports Association said that Rs 400 crore would be required for setting up of the proposed Integrated Sports Complex, which would have indoor and outdoor stadioa, an eight-lane 400 metres running synthetic track, a 10-lane 100 metres sprint track and a four-lane synthetic warm up track and many more features.

He also added that Visakha Steel Plant (VSP) authorities also sent a letter to the Union Steel Ministry seeking permission to allocate 250 acres of the land to the state government for the Integrated Sports Complex and the state government also willing to allot the same extent of land to the management of VSP at Pedagantyada area in Visakhapatnam if the VSP allocates the land to the state government.

Speaking to The Hans India, district sports development officer (Visakhapatnam) June Gallyot said that the state is not having an international standard stadium to host national and international events, hence, the government has decided to construct an Integrated Sports Complex in the city. The land at Donkada and Aganampudi areas are close to NHG-16 and near Visakhapatnam airport.

He also opined that if the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) gives a chance to the state to host National Games in 2018, the government will speed up the proposed sports projects, including Integrated Sports Complex, in the city.