Puducherry govt. evolves action plan to improve sports infrastructure

Sports infrastructure in the Union Territory is set to get a major push with the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs evolving an action plan to establish at least one play field in each of the 30 Assembly constituencies in Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam, and Mahe regions. 

A list of proposed venues, mostly educational institutions and open places, for specific sporting activities has been prepared and submitted to the Union government for funding under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) to implement the action plan.

“We have prepared Assembly wise play field areas to be developed in U.T. The places and infrastructure required for region specific sporting events were prepared in consultation with local representatives, athletes, physical education instructors, and heads of educational institutions. We have asked for funds to the tune of ₹200 crore from the Centre for the purpose. The government will take up some projects using its own funds and through a Public Private Partnership model,” said an official.

The infrastructure planned includes a multi-purpose indoor hall for badminton, basketball, table tennis, taekwondo, kabaddi, kho-kho, judo, boxing, weightlifting and a yoga hall. The list also included provisions for an athletic track, a volleyball court, both indoor and outdoor with floodlights, and a football field.

The institutions selected for sports infrastructure development in the town included Mother Theresa Institute of Health Sciences (multi- purpose indoor hall), Navalar Nedunchezhian Government Higher Secondary School (indoor volleyball court with gallery), Tagore Arts College Ground (football field, 400 metres athletic track, hockey field and additional skating rink), Puducherry Technological University (multi-purpose indoor hall) and Bharathidasan Government College (multi-purpose indoor hall).

The plan included a football field with gallery and floodlights at Ozhukarai and Orleanpet, sports infrastructure exclusive for girls at Saradambal Nagar, Ellaipillaichavady, Open Gymnasium on Beach Road, synthetic tennis courts at Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, Uppalam and V.V.P. Nagar park at Thattanchavady. The proposal also included the construction of an open playfield behind the Government High School, Saram, and a Multi-purpose hall at Jeevanandham G.H.S. Karamanikuppam, the official said. 

“The development of sports infrastructure will encourage the participation of more students into sporting events and help in engaging youth in a productive and healthy manner. The Lt. Governor, Chief Minister and Home Minister have personally taken up the funding needs with Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya when he recently visited Puducherry,” the official added. 

In addition to the request for sanction of funds, the administration has approached the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for the establishment of an SAI National Centre of Excellence, a Central government initiative to provide world class training facility for grooming potential candidates for the Olympics and other international events. The Centre has promised to look into the demand as per procedures and place the proposal before the Governing Body of SAI for approval, said another official. 

“Under the Khelo India Scheme, one Khelo India State Centre of Excellence at Rajiv Gandhi School of Sports, Uppalam, and four Khelo India Centres have been allocated to Puducherry. Work order has also been given to renovate the damaged synthetic hockey field and to construct a gallery at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex at a cost of ₹6. 87 crore. We are also in the process of recruiting coaches for various events. These initiatives are going to make a huge change in the sporting arena of Puducherry in the coming days, the official added.