Bhubaneswar:Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra Thursday visited the Birsamunda International Hockey Stadium and new airstrip in Rourkela and directed concerned officials to complete the construction works at both the projects by November 30.
The Men’s FIH World Cup Hockey, 2023 scheduled to be held in the stadium along with Kalinga Stadium here from January 13 to 29 next year.
Leading a three-member high-level team, Mr.Mahapatra visited Rourkela on the direction of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and reviewed the progress of work at the stadium and the Rourkela Airport.
The other members of the team were Sports and Youth Affairs Secretary R Vineel Krishna and Managing Director of IDCO Bhupender Singh Poonia.
After reviewing the work, the Chief Secretary said the construction of the Birsamunda International Hockey stadium is in its final stage. The turf has been laid in the main and practice stadium. The work of the visitors’ gallery and the place for the staying of players and officials is going to be completed soon, he said.
Mr.Mahapatra said a practice match would be organised after the work is completed. A modern parking place is being developed around the stadium to accommodate a large number of vehicles as a large number of people are expected to come to Rourkela from in and outside the state to watch the World Cup hockey, being organised for the first time in Rourkela.
In addition to it arrangements have been made for drinking water and toilets inside the stadium, he said.
Steps are being taken to put up LED screens at strategic places of the steel city for the people who could not make it to the stadium to watch the matches. Around 20 matches will be played at Rourkela.
Direct charter flights will be arranged for the smooth movements of players from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela.
Keeping this in view, the expansion of the Rourkela airport is going on very fast. Target has been fixed to complete all work by November 30 next. Various roads connecting Rourkela with the airport are also being developed, the Chief Secretary added.