Sribharat seeks early nod for sports centre for persons with disabilities in Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat met Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar in New Delhi and urged him to expedite the establishment of the proposed Centre for Sports for Persons with Disabilities in Visakhapatnam.

In a formal representation, Mr. Sribharat informed the Minister that the Andhra Pradesh government has already allotted 22.64 acres of government land at Bakkannapalem village in Visakhapatnam rural mandal for the project. He said a committee led by Vineet Singhal, Director, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, visited the site on March 4, 2025, and held detailed discussions with the District Collector, Joint Collector and officials of the State Department for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities.

The MP pointed out that although the State government had extended full cooperation and furnished all required information, there has been no further progress since the visit. He expressed concern over the delay and requested that the Centre be taken up with full funding support from the Union government. He said the proposed facility should include modern sports infrastructure, specialised training equipment and residential accommodation for trainees.

Mr. Sribharat said the centre would play a vital role in identifying and nurturing talented para athletes and enable them to compete at the State, national and international levels. He added that Visakhapatnam, with its strong connectivity, sports ecosystem and infrastructure, is well suited for hosting a national level institution of this kind. The facility, he said, would serve not only Andhra Pradesh but also neighbouring States by offering wider training opportunities.

Mr. Kumar responded positively and assured the MP that the proposal would be reviewed. He said the Ministry would issue necessary instructions for further action and examine the reasons for the delay, according to a statement issued here on Thursday.