The GVMC Indira Priyadarshini stadium will be developed as Khelo India Mega Centre for Andhra Pradesh with development of sporting and coaching facilities, Sports Minister Kollu Ravindra has said.
It will be developed with the ₹ 3 crore of Central government funds and those of Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh and the support of GVMC, he told reporters here on Friday.
Consultants will give designs for development and accordingly some changes will be made in the stadium, if necessary, he said.
Athletics, kho kho, kabaddi, football, hockey, volleyball, badminton, tennis and handball fields will be developed. The indoor hall will have facilities for taekwondo, table tennis and weightlifting. Sports material will be supplied by SAAP. Ten coaches will be appointed.
Recalling that several prestigious national and international sports events were held during Mr. Chandrababu Naidu’s tenure, MLA Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar said he had wanted the Priyadarshini stadium to be improved with ₹10 crore and so far ₹1.5 crore was spent on it.
Municipal Commissioner M Hari Narayanan said a resolution was sent to the Special Officer on not allowing non-sporting activities in the stadium. GVMC would support the stadium with electricity, water supply etc while sporting activities would be taken care of by the Sports Authority of AP.
District Sports Development Officer June Gallyot Rodrigues said 85 % of work on the sports training centre at Kommadi was completed. It has 200-metre track with all playfields, pavilion and indoor stadium with wooden flooring. Eight-lane, 400-metre track can be developed there, she said.
