Delayed Barracks stadium at Berhampur may finally see the light of the day

The Berhampur Stadium, hanging fire for 25 years, is likely to overcome land constraints and get completed soon, official sources said on Wednesday, following a meeting in this regard.

When the stadium is completed, it would be fit to host national and international sports competitions. According to the blueprint, the stadium will house a swimming pool, a gymnasium, hostels and two galleries. At present, the stadium has an athletics track, a cricket field, a football ground and a basketball court besides a sports hostel. In 1989, then chief minister J B Patnaik inaugurated the 'incomplete' stadium.

To make its infrastructure ready, the state government has to take over land, earmarked for the stadium, but under the possession of ministry of defence (MoD). Around 17.68 acre near Old Bus Stand identified for the stadium, 9.18 acre is with MoD, official sources said.

At least four quarters of NCC officers are located in the defence area. "We have decided to construct NCC officers' quarters at a distance with all infrastructure facilities. It will facilitate completion of the stadium," said MLA (Berhampur) R C Chyaupatnaik. The state government would bear all expenses, he said.

Sports secretary Saswat Mishra, collector (Ganjam) Prem Chand Chaudhary, district sports officer A K Patnaik, NCC group commander S Bhattacharya and engineers of public works department (PWD) attended the meeting. The sports secretary asked the PWD engineers to prepare a detailed project report for construction of NCC officers' quarters and completion of the stadium.

Times of India, The Hindu, Prameya, The Sambad