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Barabati Stadium to get facelift in two years

CUTTACK: Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare on Monday laid the foundation stone for the renovation and expansion of the picturesque Barabati Stadium here.

The Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) would spend around Rs. 56 crore for the expansion of the stadium that would be completed in two years.

The BCCI is funding OCA for the expansion of the stadium, which has so far hosted as many as 13 One-day Internationals,several Test matches and hundreds of first class matches.

“The stadium would soon have an indoor practice hall to facilitate players to continue their practice during inclement weather. There are plans to have a swimming pool inside the stadium premises. Seating capacity of the stadium would be increased from the present 30,000 to 50,000,” said OCA secretary Ashirbad Behera.

Capacity of two galleries would be increased while the present Press Box would be renovated with all modern communication facilities. Similarly, the players’ dressing room would be renovated as per the international standards, Mr Behera added.

State Sports Minister Debashis Naik, Urban Development Minister K V Singh Deo and Higher Education Minister Samir Dey, who is also president of Orissa Olympic Association (OOA), were present at the foundation stone laying ceremony. OCA president Ranjib Biswal, a national selection committee member, presided over the meeting.

Mr. Behera said: “although, the stadium belongs to OOA, BCCI has no objection in OCA developing the stadium into a world-class cricket stadium.

“BCCI has promised the assistance to be given in two phases and this would be spent in next two years to give a major facelift to the stadium,” said Mr Behera, who is also the secretary of OOA.

Asked about recent media reports about the objection raised by the BCCI of not allotting international matches to the associations that do not have their own stadiums, Mr. Behera refuted the reports saying: “Like OCA, many affiliated associations of BCCI do not have stadiums of their own but they host matches in stadiums of their respective States which either belong to State Government or corporate houses.”

The stadium has floodlight facilities and a state-of-art multi-gym inside its premises and a sophisticated Press box. Many international cricketers like the stadium for its lush green outfield.

However, for its location of about 30 km from the international airport in Bhubaneswar and lack of any five-star hotels in Cuttack city, the venue often gets a miss from the international fixtures, he said .

OCA also on the occasion announced a pension scheme for former Ranji players of the State.

Of the 109 former players, 49 players turned up on Monday to receive their first pension from Governor Bhandare.

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