Visakhapatnam: Moving on the plans to have an integrated sports complex at Gandigundam area under Anandapuram limits in Vizag city, the state government has identified over 250 acres of land belonging to Visakhapatnam Steel Plant near Donkada area under Aganampudi area in Vizag city for the project. Recently, special chief secretary for sports L.V. Subrahmanyam and some others visited the site at Donkada area and expressed that the land is suitable for setting up the integrated sports complex.
Sources said on the request of the state government, VSP authorities have decided to give the land for setting up the sports complex. The VSP authorities have also sent a letter to Union steel ministry seeking permission to allocate around 250 acres of the land to the state government for the integrated sports complex on the lines of Gachibowli stadium in Hyderabad of Telangana. The state government is willing to allot the same extent of land to the management of VSP at Pedagantyada area in Vizag if the VSP allocate the land to the state government.
With Andhra Pradesh not having an international standard stadium to host national and international events, the state government has decided to constr-uct an integrated sports complex in Vizag city. The land at Donkada area under Aganamp-udi area is close to NHG-16 and near to Vizag Airport. It will hence be finalised by the officials shortly for the proposed project, said District Sports Development Officer (Vizag) June Gallyot.
At least Rs 400 crore would be required for setting up the proposed integrated sports complex, which is to have indoor and outdoor stadiums, an 8-lane 400 metres running synthetic track, a 10-lane 100 metres sprint track and a 4-lane synthetic warm up track and many more features. Sources said that if the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) gives a chance to AP to host national games in 2018, the government will speed the proposed sports projects including integrated sports complex, sources added.
