International Sports Complex to come up in Vijayawada

Vijayawada: The first ever mega sports complex in the capital region of Amaravati will come up at Vidyadharapuram in Vijayawada in 8.9 acres land at a cost of Rs 60 crore.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will lay the foundation stone for construction of the Amaravati International Sports Complex at 5 pm on Tuesday. Two swimming pools with size of 50x20 metres, 20x20 metres, multi-purpose indoor hall, outdoor synthetic track and G+2 club house will be built in the complex.

Besides, parking facility will be arranged for vehicles. Landscaping is also part of the project. Most importantly, the headquarters of the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) will be shifted to the Amaravati Sports Complex.

The State government had decided to develop Amaravati, Vizag and Tirupati as sports cities. The State government will spend Rs 54 crore and the Centre will give matching grant of Rs 6 crore for the sports complex.

Sports Minister Kollu Ravindra informed the media on Monday that the sports complex project will be completed in 10 months and works were handed over to the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).

He said that the construction of sports complex will be beneficial to the State and would promote sports and games. He said the Chief Minister would lay foundation stone at 5 pm on Tuesday at Vidyadharapuram.

Kollu Ravindra along with the SAAP officials inspected the arrangements on Monday and interacted with the media.He said talented children in the age group of 10 to 15 will be selected from the rural areas of the State and will be trained to make them international-level sportspersons.

He said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will also inaugurate Gaandiva sports project to bring out the talents of the children. Similarly, the State government is implementing Panchajanya sports scheme to develop sports in the State.

He informed that 303 schools in the State were identified by Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh to promote sports. Out of which, 100 schools will be selected to provide basic infrastructure facilities like 200 metres running track and various courts etc.

The Minister said district-level selections will be made to identify the talented children and later they will be given coaching by expert coaches and nutritional food will be given to the talented children in the 100-odd select schools.

The Minister along with SAAP officials visited the proposed sports stadium premises and inspected arrangements for the foundation laying programme.