Her 'dream' project — an international standard sports stadium to be constructed at Golapaar (Haldwani) — continues to hang in balance for long, but State Finance Minister and MlA from Haldwani Indira Hridayesh has no qualm about making promises to her electorate for early construction of the same.
Interestingly, when asked about commencement of work on this project about a year ago, she informed The Pioneer, 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.
But the matter of fact is that work has not yet been started on this 'dream' project even after a year. However, when her attention was again drawn towards poor progress of the said project in terms of construction, Finance Minister Hridayesh this time informed that necessary formalities including financial bidding process have been completed. Therefore, work on this project would be started soon, she added. At the same time, not forgetting to mention the international standard sports stadium as her 'dream' project, Hridayesh reiterated that she wanted this project to be completed only during her present tenure as the representative of the Haldwani Assembly Constituency.
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.
In the meanwhile, a team of experts from the Tata Group had already visited the proposed sports stadium site about a year ago. So it is believed now the construction and design wing of the Tata Group may construct the project.
However, when asked about the estimated cost of the said project, Hridayesh did not divulge much saying since things are being finalised, so it is difficult to say about the cost of the project.
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. Now construction work has already been delayed even after Hridayesh's assurances made to the people about a year ago. So it is to be seen whether she manages to give a concrete shape to this project in her present tenure or not as she has mentioned.
However, if things move according to the plan, the proposed modern international standard stadium will be equipped with all the modern sports facilities like the indoor badminton stadium, separate ground for cricket, football and other sports activities, apart from a pavilion.