Plan to install LED floodlights in silk city sports complex
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Berhampur: The Mahatma Gandhi Stadium, a major sports complex in silk city, is set for a major upgrade with the installation of LED floodlights. Administrative approval was accorded recently by the govt to an estimate of around Rs 10.67 crore for supply, installation, testing of high-mast LED floodlights in the stadium's cricket ground.
The amount also included the annual comprehensive maintenance of floodlights, official sources said. The project would be executed by Idco, they said. Floodlights will enable to conduct night cricket tournaments in the stadium, said sports lovers.
"A long-standing demand of sportspersons, especially cricket lovers, has been fulfilled with govt approval for installing LED floodlights in the sports complex," said K Anil Kumar, MLA (Berhampur).
The MLA said he had earlier requested sports minister Suryabanshi Suraj for sanction of the floodlighting system in the sports complex and also raised the issue in the assembly.
Organisers of a cricket tournament at the ground have been forced to hire floodlights by paying a high amount for installation and to conduct the matches.
J Kameswar Rao, general secretary, Ganjam District Athletic Association (GDAA), said during the construction of the stadium, there was a provision for floodlights. But later, it was withdrawn and they had been demanding installation of floodlights for a long time.
"We hope the executing agency will float a tender soon to execute the floodlighting system in the stadium. With its installation, major cricket tournaments can be held in Berhampur," he said.
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