Fort town set to become a sports hub

Vizzi Stadium to be renovated to hold national, international events

New look: Skating rink being readied as part of the development of sports infrastructure in Vizianagaram.

A roadmap is being readied to develop sports infrastructure and training institutes, particularly after the State government and Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) sanctioned six Kreeda Vikas Kendras (KVKs) in Assembly constituencies, 164 school playgrounds this year, Water Sports Academy at Thatipudi, Model Sports School at Sir Vizzi Stadium, and repairs and renovation of Rajiv Stadium Complex and Aqua Sports Complex in the district.

The Vizzi Stadium that was neglected over the years, is now being renovated as an arena for holding national and international events, thanks to the interest shown by Union Minister for Civil Aviation P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju for developing facilities on the sprawling 74-acre land at Babametta in the fort town.

Tennis court

Mr. Raju got synthetic a tennis court developed by the Power Grid Corporation with ₹30 lakh. While work on the 2 km-long walking track with ₹1.47crore has been completed, work on the cycling track with ₹90 lakh and skating rink with ₹1.01 crore is in progress.

The VUDA is developing a park in the stadium with ₹1.47core besides greenery in open areas at ₹ 7lakh. Lighting arrangement has been made along the walkers’ track with ₹20.74 lakh. SAAP has already accorded sanction for construction of a Model Sports School with a capacity to train 360 students with an estimated cost of ₹20 crore.

The school is the second after the one at Kadapa. The government has also sanctioned ₹2 crore to renovate the Rajiv Stadium Complex and the Aqua Sports Complex at the Cantonment.

The Water Sports Academy with a capacity to train 50 students will be developed with ₹3 crore on five acres at the Thatipudi reservoir in Gantyada mandal.

These apart, each KVK with facilities like athletic track and indoor stadium at a cost of ₹2 crore will come up on six cents of land at Koduru in Cheepurupalli Assembly constituency, Nalli Cheruvu in Parvathipuram (Parvathipuram), Gollapalli (Bobbili), Gantyada (Gajapathinagaram), Ardhannapalem in Kothavalasa mandal (S. Kota), and Modavalasa in Nellimarla Assembly constituency.

Each KVK will be provided rooftop solar system of 30kV capacity at a cost of ₹25 lakh. Already land for the KVKs has been acquired and designs approved for their construction.