Member Staff, Railway Board & president, Railway Sports Promotion Board, S.N. Agarawal, commissioned the upgraded sports facilities at the Waltair Railway Division in the presence of DRM, Waltair Mukul Saran Mathur, Principal Chief Personnel Officer, ECoR, P.C. Nayak, and a few others. The Railway Sports Promotion Board, which came up with master plan to upgrade all sports facilities in 2017, has finished the project within eight months.
The Waltair Railway Division officials say that the renowned cricket stadium, which is now named as Waltair Railway Stadium is going to be an asset and it is ready to host first class cricket matches.
According to officials, the cricket ground was extended to 72 metre radius and was renovated with subsurface ground drainage, modern grassing and underground sprinkler facilities. The pitch and outfield was developed with the help of Visakhapatnam District Cricket Association (VDCA) and Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) technical personnel. The pavilions were modified with all the modern facilities of WiFi, AC Seating, Masseur tables and VIP Lounges. An air conditioned sports dormitory, weightlifting hall and gym has also been developed in the cricket stadium. The Waltair division officials say that all the equipment and items were prepared as per BCCI standards.
The Railway Indoor Sports Enclave (RISE) is now ready with wooden flooring consists of 10 badminton courts, six table tennis courts and also space for martial arts training. The old badminton court was also converted into a boxing hall with modern facilities. The swimming pool was also renovated.
Moreover, the exhibition ground is also now being converted into a full-fledged football stadium with an athletic track around it. The railway officials say that work will be completed in the next three months.
“The renovation works of facilities and construction of new complex consisting of a wonderful cricket stadium with flood lit courts of volleyball, tennis (synthetic & clay), ball badminton, basketball, cricket nets, swimming pool aided with a gymnasium, sports conference hall & a modern sports dormitory was completed in a record time of 8 months with an investment of ₹3.5 crore,” the railway officials said in a release on Saturday.
