State Finance Minister and MlA from Haldwani Indira Hridayesh’s dream project- international standard sports stadium to be constructed at Golapaar, Haldwani which was hanging in balance for a long time, may take a concrete shape soon with Government of India releasing `25 crore for construction of this project.
At the same time keeping in view the high cost of this much talked about project, the State Government would also invest similar amount i.e. `25 crore on this project. Thus, the sports stadium would be constructed at Rs 50 crore.
“We have already received `25 crore from the Central Government for construction of this project and the State Government would also spend `25 crore on this project,” said State Finance Minister Indira Hridayesh, while talking to The Pioneer in an exclusive interview. When asked when will the work on this project be started, she maintained that as soon as the rainy season is over, the construction process would be started, adding due to adverse weather conditions work could not be started during the past few months.
When her attention was drawn on the issue of land needed for this sports stadium, the State Finance Minister maintained that there is no problem as far as land is concerned. A portion of the land is already sanctioned for this project and rest of land could be acquired as per the requirement ahead.
The Tata Group will look after the design and construction aspect of this proposed modern sports stadium. It seems the State Government, perhaps keeping in view certain complexities that arise in
creating international standard sports stadium, must have decided to hire the Tata Group to deal with design and construction aspect of this aforesaid stadium. And a few months ago a team of experts from the Tata Group had already visited the proposed sports stadium site. Yes, the construction and design wing of the Tata Group will construct the project, Haridayesh further said.
It may be recalled that earlier the State Government wanted to get the aforesaid project constructed by its own agency Uttarakhand Infrastructure Development Corporation (UIDC). later, the UP Rajkiya Nirman Nigam (UPRNN), a UP Government’s undertaking, was assigned the task of constructing the same sports stadium project.
However, the interesting fact is that with the State Government now already engaging the Tata Group in the same project, therefore, it is not clear what will be the UPRNN’s role in this project now. Conceptualised nearly a decade ago, the said international standard sports stadium may take at least two years to be completed if things move as per schedule. We want this project to be ready as early as possible. But it is believed it may take at least two years to be completed, maintained the State Finance Minister.
The proposed modern international standard stadium will be equipped with all modern sports facilities like indoor badminton stadium, separate ground for cricket, football and other sports activities, apart from a pavilion.