TN To Overhaul Sports Infrastructure, Mini-stadium Works Halted For Redesign
Aadhav Arjuna announced a major overhaul of the state’s sports infrastructure, including modern sports hostels in all 38 districts, upgraded stadiums and region-specific development plans.
CHENNAI: Aadhav Arjuna, Tamil Nadu Minister for Public Works, Highways, Buildings, Minor Ports and Sports Development, on Tuesday announced a major overhaul of the state’s sports infrastructure, including modern sports hostels in all 38 districts, upgraded stadiums and region-specific development plans.
Speaking in Assembly, he said construction work on mini-stadiums across 62 Assembly constituencies had been temporarily halted to redesign the facilities and replace existing mud tracks with all-weather tracks that can be used throughout the year. Citing poor-quality tracks, including one in Karur, he said some surfaces were so rough that athletes risked sustaining injuries while running. Tamil Nadu has also been divided into eight sports zones to tailor training and development to regional strengths.
The minister said the government, in coordination with the school education department, would identify one school in every district, particularly in the southern and Delta regions, and develop it with comprehensive sports infrastructure. The move follows concerns raised by Sholavandhan MLA Karuppiah over the poor maintenance of sports grounds in schools in Alanganallur and Vadipatti.
Responding to MLA Karthikeyan’s demand for an international-standard sports facility in Madurai, Aadhav Arjuna announced plans for a world-class Olympic Sports Academy in the city. Site identification is underway, and he invited suggestions on suitable locations. He said special sports development plans were also being prepared for Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram, Kanyakumari and Sivaganga, while an Olympic City has been proposed at Paramakudi.
On Pudukkottai, the minister said he would personally inspect sports facilities and ensure that complexes include walking tracks, gyms and swimming pools. He also said discrepancies in the Chief Minister’s Sports Awards would be brought to the Chief Minister’s attention for corrective action next year. Responding to demands from Paramathi Velur for better facilities for kabaddi players, the minister said special schemes were being prepared for the sport and indoor facilities would be developed to replace injury-prone mud courts.
He also said that 500 sports centres under urban and rural local bodies had been identified for modernisation, including facilities to safeguard sports equipment.
