Rourkela: Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) is planning to carry out a major overhaul and modernisation of sports facilities in this town. This was stated by Atanu Bhowmick, Director Incharge of RSP during his Independence Day speech. He announced that modernisation of sports facilities will be undertaken at Rs 11 crore. He informed that once the facilities are upgraded they will provide a huge boost to the promising sportspersons in this city as well as in Sundargarh district. The key projects include the renovation of Ispat Stadium in Sector-VI, where four multistorey changing rooms for players with comprehensive facilities will be developed.
Additional enhancements at the stadium include full lighting, a sprinkler system with water connection and storage, repairs of the boundary walls and VIP area shades. The football ground and cycling tracks will also undergo renovations. At the Ispat Basketball Complex, a new shed will be constructed for the benefit of the players. The new volleyball ground inside the Biju Patnaik hockey stadium complex is also going to be fenced. New lights will be installed and a seating area will be developed for the players to rest.
Simultaneously, the Biju Patnaik hockey stadium will also be upgraded. New floodlights will be installed at the stadium for Rs 3 crore. It should be stated here that RSP had given a complete transformation to the stadium with the installation of a new state-of-the-art synthetic turf, sprinklers and other facilities in 2023 at an expenditure of about Rs 12 crore. The modernisation of the stadium will certainly be a huge boost for hockey, locals said.