Odisha CM inaugurates 41 cricket academies and stadium redevelopment projects

Bhubaneswar: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik took a significant step towards enhancing sports development in the state by inaugurating 41 cricket academies and various facilities at different locations. Additionally, he laid foundation stones for key projects to further bolster the sports infrastructure.

Patnaik on Tuesday said that the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack is set to undergo a transformation into a world-class sports complex with modern facilities, in collaboration with the BCCI, Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) and corporate entities. Emphasising the conservation of the stadium’s clock tower as a heritage structure, the chief minister underscored the commitment to creating top-notch sporting facilities.

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Simultaneously, Patnaik announced plans for the VSS Cricket Stadium in Sambalpur, aiming for expansion and development to provide state-of-the-art cricket facilities for players in the western region of Odisha.

The CM also inaugurated cricket facilities in Berhampur, Puri, Jajpur and Jharsuguda. In Ganjam, an integrated sports complex is slated for creation in Sitalapalli and Berhampur, catering to athletics, football, cricket, an indoor stadium and other sports needs in the region.

Through video conferencing, Patnaik inaugurated the Ganjam Weightlifting Academy, accompanied by a 200-seat hostel, marking it as the country’s “largest” weightlifting training facility.

Emphasising sports as a priority area for youth empowerment, Patnaik said Odisha is now acknowledged as a major sports destination in the country.

(with PTI inputs)