SPORTS is getting its deserving due in Nagpur. The State Government, which has recently granted Rs 100 crore for Divisional Sports Complex a few days ago, has okayed financial assistance worth crores of rupees for the development of multi-storied sports complex of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU). Already, the laying work of synthetic athletics track of RTMNU at its Ravi Nagar Sports Complex is in final stages. The material (track rubber) will be laid in a few days’ time. On its heels has come the new announcement. Celebrating its centenary year, RTMNU had requested the Maharashtra Government for funds for construction of an international standard sports complex on its land situated off Ravi Nagar. The State Government, in a major decision, granted Rs 44,41,38,000 for construction of indoor sports complex, on Wednesday. The international standard multi-storied sports complex will come up behind Subhedar Hall on around three acres of RTMNU land.

‘The Hitavada’ was first to report about RTMNU’s plans to construct indoor sports complex in its centenary year.

“We had requested the State Government for funds for construction of an international standard sports complex. I am thankful to the Government for sanctioning the funds. The structural plan is ready and we will perform the bhoomipujan as soon as possible,” said an elated Dr Sharad Suryawanshi, Director, Department of Sports and Physical Education, RTMNU while talking with ‘The Hitavada’, on Wednesday. The three-storied indoor sports complex will house international standard volleyball, basketball, handball courts, table tennis area, wrestling rings, separate kabaddi and gymnastic areas, squash area, gymnasium, sports medicine room apart from rest rooms, changing rooms, store rooms on every floor with lift facilities. “We will be using the space very sensibly. We will try to make hanging basketball boards so that the area can be utilised for other sports as well. We will also decide later about the slots to each sport,” informed Dr Suryawanshi, who is a former international runner. The construction work will be done by the Public Works Department. “The structural map has been already sanctioned. We will not waste any time in starting the work,” assured Dr Suryawanshi. To make the indoor stadium one of the best in the country, Dr Suryawanshi, along with former Director Dr Dhananjay Welukar, Arjuna awardee Vijay Munishwar, architect Aanand Sarda, had visited Manipal Indoor Sports Complex, NIT Suratkal, Karnataka and Savitribai Phule Pune University. They studied the structure and planning in and around the sports complexes and prepared the best possible design. “At our indoor sports complex, which would be three-storied, the seating arrangement will be detachable. That will help us in utilising space as per our need,” Dr Suryawanshi elaborated.