Coimbatore: The hockey players and sports enthusiasts in the city are left in dismay as the much-expected International Hockey Stadium in the city is been finally put on hold.
Coimbatore: The hockey players and sports enthusiasts in the city are left in dismay as the much-expected International Hockey Stadium in the city is been finally put on hold.
The project was initially proposed in 2013 under the Smart City Scheme at an estimated cost of Rs.24 crore and presently on hold citing multiple reasons, sais an official source.
In 2013, the project was envisioned and the football ground at Corporation Higher Secondary School at RS Puram was ear-marked for the same. An initial fund of Rs. 4.5 crore was allotted to kick-start the project. Again, citing few reasons the project got postponed.
Again in 2016, the project was dusted and taken back for implementation. And, this time, the hockey enthusiasts were much hopeful that the administration would take up the job seriously, and accomplish the dream project. Adding to their hope, required materials to lay the synthetic turf was procured and stored in the open ground at the school. The materials were exposed to sun and deteriorated.
Sports enthusiasts even condemned the Corporation for not laying the turf, instead leaving the materials to fall apart. Shockingly, the materials which were procured for few crores to lay the turf were reduced to ashes in a fire accident, in 2019 at the school grounds.
In this scenario, a whopping fund of Rs 19.5 crore was yet again alloted under the Smart City Project, in 2019 for completing the project. Following allocation of funds, a detailed project report was sent to Commissionerate of Municipal Administration in October 2019. The report detailed the facilities at the proposed hockey ground -- a mega viewing gallery for spectators, dormitories for players, fitness centre for players, etc.,
Later, the detailed project report was sent to Tamil Nadu Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation (TUFIDCO) for consent. As the funds are on a higher side, the agency then raised around 20 questions to the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) asking if the facility can be used for multiple sporting activities like basket ball, table tennis etc. However, CCMC had no answer for the same. Yet again, the project was put on hold.
According to Corporation sources, the project has been put on hold due to practical difficulties in creating a world- class facility. Now, questions arise on the funds already spent by CCMC for this project for buying astro turf material which got destroyed in fire and the cost incurred in building the compound wall around the school and partly in the play area.
According to P. Senthil Rajkumar, Secretary, Coimbatore District Hockey Association, "This ground can still be put to use. Even if CCMC is unable to build an international stadium, they can still pump some additional funds and lay a synthetic turf to conduct State and National level matches. Importantly, such facility will be greatly helpful for the district level players for practice sessions."
Though officially the project has not been shelved, sources say most likely the project will not be implemented.
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