Visakhapatnam: The AP government’s plans to set up an integrated sports complex (ISC) in Vizag city is facing land hurdles. Authorities have identified some areas but have not yet finalised any land for the project saying that the area available was not sufficient.
Abandoning plans for the ISC at Gandigundam area under Anandapuram limits in Vizag city and at Aganampudi area in Vizag city, the district administration is now checking lands at Yarada in Vizag city. Sources said the state government has planned to set up the ICS there acquiring over 250 acres of land belonging to Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) near Donkada area under Aganampudi in Vizag city. But, the management of the VSP is re-luctant to give the huge chunk of land with the tr-ade union opposing the move.
On Monday, special chief secretary for sports L.V. Subrahmanyam, along with the district collector Pravin Kumar, vice-chairman of VUDA P. Basanth Kumar and others, visited the land at Yarada and Aganampudi areas in the city. Mr Subrahmanyam directed district administration to examine if the land is suitable for the project.
The senior IAS officer also expressed displeasure over the delay in identification of land for the project. The tahsildar of Anandapuram, Eswara Rao, pointed out the availability of land at Ananda-puram region through Google map. Mr Subr-ahmanyam has directed the officials to find alternate land for the project.
Sources said the VUDA has a huge chunk of land at Yarada area in the city that can be given for the project.
Once the location is finalised, at least Rs 400 crore would be needed for the construction in Vizag city. The project will incl-ude indoor and outdoor stadiums, an 8-lane 400m running synthetic track, a 10-lane 100m sprint track and a 4-lane synthetic wa-rm up track besides many more features. The AP government has been claiming to set up the ICS on lines of Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad in TS.
