PATNA: In a bid to promote sporting talent in Bihar, state sports ministry has come up with a project to construct one stadium each in all 534 blocks of the state.
In the first phase, as many as 180 stadiums would be built in the state by the end of this year. Land has already been acquired for the purpose and initial earth levelling work is under progress.
“Before this project, none of the stadiums were under our sports ministry,” said Sukhda Pandey, minister of sports, adding “all the existing stadiums have been constructed by the district administrations. It will be the first time when stadiums would be under the sports ministry.”
The department has planned to construct stadiums of three different sizes. District headquarter will have stadiums with a circumference of 400 metres, and will be constructed at a cost of Rs 45.24 lakh each. Stadiums at sub-divisional headquarters would have a circumference of 300 metres which would be constructed at an outlay of Rs 42.28 lakh each. The blocks will have stadiums of 200 meter circumference, to be built at a cost of 33.21 lakh each.
To provide better sports facilities in the state capital, the department is also carrying out renovation of the Moin-ul-Haq stadium, which has a seating capacity of 84,000 people.
Besides, the department is also developing Kankarbagh athletic stadium in the city. It will have outdoor and indoor stadium, accommodation for coaches, sports hostel for 200 students and swimming facilities.
“At present, sufficient sports infrastructure is not available in the state. Construction of stadiums could be the key to spread sports culture among the masses in Bihar and also nurture the genuine sporting talents,” said Pandey