Odisha CS directs officials to complete Birsa Munda Hockey stadium by Nov 30

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Secretary S C Mohapatra on Thursday directed the officials to complete the construction of Birsa Munda Hockey stadium and the Rourkela Airport by November 30 next ahead of the 2023 Men’s FIH World Cup Hockey scheduled to be held from January 13 to 29 next.
Mohapatra was talking to newspersons after a three-member Secretary level team led by him visited Rourkela on the direction of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and reviewed the progress of work on Thursday.
The other members of the team were Sports and Youth Affairs Secretary R Vineel Krishna and Managing Director of IDCO Bhupender Singh Punia.
After reviewing the work, Mohapatra said the construction of the Birsa Munda International Hockey stadium is in its final stage.
The turf has been laid in the main and practice stadium, The work of the visitors’ gallery and the place for the staying of players and officials is going to be completed soon.
The Chief Secretary said a practice match would be organized after the work is completed.
He said a modern parking place is being developed around the stadium to accommodate a large number of vehicles as a large number of people are expected to come to Rourkela from in and outside the state to watch the World Cup hockey, being organised for the first time in Rourkela.
In addition to it arrangements have been made for drinking water and toilets inside the stadium.
Steps are being taken to put up LED screens at strategic places of the steel city for the people who could not make it to the stadium to watch the matches.
The Chief Secretary said the World Hockey cup will be organised at Bhubaneswar and Rourkela from January 13 to 29. Around 20 matches will be played at Rourkela.
Direct Charter flights will be arranged for the smooth movements of players from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela.
Keeping this in view the expansion of Rourkela Airport is going on very fast. Target has been fixed to complete all work by November 30 next. Various roads connecting Rourkela with the Airport are also being developed, the Chief Secretary said. (UNI)