SAAP gets 25 acres to spruce up sporting facilties.

The Krishna District administration has allotted 15 acres of land at Nunna and 10 acres near Pavithra Sangamam (Ferry) on the banks of River Krishna to establish state-of-the-art sports facilities , according to Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh Managing Director Bangara Raju here on Friday.

Speaking to The Hindu, he said that the Nunna land will be used exclusive for coaching purpose for various games. “After a thorough search we were able to identify 10 acres near Ferry where we will establish water sports academies,” he said.

Mr. Raju said an exhaustive meeting was held with Krishna District Collector Lakshmikantam and these decisions were put in motion. “By his year-end, we can witness a paradigm shift in sporting facilities in the city,” he said. He said Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium, Makineni Basavapunnaiah Corporation Stadium and Patamata Indoor Stadium will be refurbished as per the needs of modern-day sports requirements. “An amount ₹30 crores will be spent collectively on these three venues that include a 400m synthetic track for athletics at IGMC stadium.”

He said sports provisions like grass-field football ground, courts for handball, volleyball and basketball and facilities long jump and pole vault pits will be spruced up along with face-lift to association offices and halls meant for indoor games like judo, carrom, chess at IGMC stadium.

He added that sports experts were brought from Mumbai and Baroda and their recommendations will be placed before the Chief Minister for final approval.

Mr. Raju said as Andhra Cricket Association was already doing an exemplary job by establishing quality playfields in Krishna District; cricket will be given less priority at IGMC stadium. “we will concentrate on other games,” he said.

He said the vacant place near Panama Indoor stadium will also put to proper use for the promotion of sports and the indoor stadium at Singhnagar stadium will get a face-lift.

Contests

The SAAP chief said as per the suggestions of the Chief Minister, the sports authority was eager to stage a series of top-class sporting contests in the State to help locals watch quality fixtures involving national and international players. “We are staging a beach kabaddi event at Machilipatnam shore and a Federation Cup volleyball tournament at Cosmopolitan Club at Bhimavaram in March. Federation Club basketball tournament will also be held at Chittoor this year,” he signed off.

THE HINDU