Monday, June 4, 2007

Sports complex construction hangs fire

The New Indian Express, June 4, 2007

BHAWANIPATNA: In a bid to encourage sports activities and provide a platform to raw talents, a sports complex was approved for the district by the State Government in 2004. But its construction work continues to move at a snail’s pace.

Sources said the Sports and Youth Services Department had approved Rs. 254.57 lakh for the complex and R&B, Bhawanipatna division, was made the implementing agency.

The project, near Kusadangar, included an outdoor stadium with eight-lane track, football, volleyball and basketball fields, a tennis court, multigym hall, category II swimming pool, indoor hall and 100-bed sports hostel.

According to R&B department sources, out of Rs. 254.57 lakh, only Rs. 74 lakh has been released in phases till now by the Sports Department. If the funds are released at this rate, it may take several years to complete the complex and in the process, the cost of construction would go up manifold.

R & B , Bhawanipatna division, executive engineer A K Badpanda said the estimate was prepared at 2003 prices basing on which the administrative approval was accorded. Now with the rise in the price of materials and labour, the rate schedule has been revised thrice and the project cost will be accordingly increased by 30 percent of the original estimate.

The revised estimate has been submitted for administrative approval. But he maintained that the progress of the work is satisfactory.

A compound wall for the complex is essential. Since the project does not include, the district administration will take care of it for which a separate estimate of Rs. 45 lakh has been prepared by PWD (R&B).

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