Bhubaneswar: Odisha is aggressively ramping up its sports infrastructure with a commitment to build world-class facilities and nurture talent from the grassroots, a resolve highlighted in a key review meeting held today at the Lok Seva Bhawan.
Law, Works and Excise Minister, Shri Prithviraj Harichandan, stated that Odisha is on a rapid trajectory of progress, attracting national attention across sectors like agriculture, education, healthcare, and infrastructure, guided by the esteemed leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi. He mandated that officers and engineers must work tirelessly to strengthen the sports infrastructure and fulfill the state government’s goal of taking sports to the grassroots level.
Principal Secretary of the Public Works Department, Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, stressed the importance of comprehensive Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) that utilize modern technology and advanced equipment during construction.
The review meeting, convened to assess the construction progress of various sports projects, was presided over by Odia Language, Literature and Culture, Higher Education, and Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Shri Suryabansi Suraj.
Emphasizing a grassroots approach, Sports Minister Shri Suryavansi Suraj said, “To develop sports not only at the state or district level but also at the overall level, we have to go to the grassroots level. Odisha is full of talent in the rural areas. If we can provide them with training facilities at world-class infrastructure, we can make Odisha proud in the field of sports.” He called for collective effort to achieve the state government’s goal for athletes’ development.
The meeting reviewed the ongoing construction of several crucial projects, including various swimming pool complexes, the Jajpur Sports Complex, iconic Sports Complexes in Sambalpur and Jharsuguda, construction of indoor halls, and the Football Training Center in Sambalpur. Discussions also covered proposed world-class sports infrastructure in Jharsuguda and Bhadrak slated for the coming days.
A major focus of the meeting was to ensure every construction meets international standards, keeping future needs in mind and providing world-class training facilities to players.
The meeting was attended by key officials, including the Commissioner and Secretary of the Sports Department, Shri Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav, EIC (Civil) Shri Satyabrat Behera, OBCC MD Shri Sameer Hota, Chief Engineer (Building) Shri Priyabrat Samantray, and Additional Secretary of the Sports Department Shri Bijay Swain.