Rs 5 cr sanctioned for sports complex at GM University

Sambalpur: The work on an ultra-modern mini sports complex at the Gangadhar Meher University (GMU) in the city is likely to begin soon. The state government has accepted the proposal of the GMU to set up the sports complex and sanctioned Rs 5 crore for the project.
Six acres have also been identified on the premises of the institution, which is spread over 38 acres in the heart of the city, for the sports complex. The land, where the sports complex has been proposed to be developed, is located in front of the girls’ hostels of the institution.

“The total budget of the project is Rs 14.03 crore. While government has already sanctioned Rs 5 crore for the project in the first phase, the remaining amount will be sanctioned subsequently,” informed deputy registrar of the varsity U C Pati.

He said the central public works department (CPWD) will execute the work. “We have requested the CPWD to float a tender for the project at the earliest. We are hopeful that the work on the project will begin by June,” added Pati.

According to the proposal, the sports complex will house an Olympic-standard swimming pool, hockey turf for training of students, volleyball court, badminton court, lawn tennis court, gallery for the audience on one side of the field, yoga centre, gymnasium and rest room for players. There will be facilities for indoor games like carrom and chess. Since the construction of the sports complex will begin this year, which is platinum jubilee year of the institution, the university authorities have decided to name it as Platinum Jubilee Memorial Sports Complex.

“Many students of this institution have participated in national and state level athletic events and achieved success. Though sports is an integral part of education, the sports activity in the institution is very less in the absence of proper infrastructure. The mini sports complex will be a boon for the students,” said a student, Debajyoti Pattnaik.