VHA submits site plan, quotation for flood-lit astro turf

By Paritosh Pramanik

A FLOOD-LIT astro turf hockey stadium of international standard with a seating capacity of 10,000 spectators, two dressing rooms, also of international standards, VIP box and selectors seating arrangements, spacious parking facilities.....
This is not description of any hockey stadium in metros but the proposal Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) and District Sports Office (DSO) have sent to the Ministry of Sports (Sports India, New Delhi) through Deputy Director, Sports and Youth Services, Pune, Maharashtra, recently.
The way things are moving, it looks it won’t be too long before Nagpur gets its own turf at VHA ground. If all goes well and at the same pace, Vidarbha will very soon have its first hockey stadium in the heart of Nagpur at VHA ground, off Amravati Road, near Dhyanchand Square.
Around a month ago, VHA had submitted a copy of quotation and site plan for construction of international standard and FIH-approved synthetic hockey field to various government departments and had asked for 100 per cent grant under ‘Khelo India Infrastructure Scheme’.
This was after VHA had thrice submitted their proposal to 
the concerned department namely the District Sports Office, Nagpur and Ministry of Sports and Youth Services, Pune. On first two occasions, VHA’s files were ‘lost’.
After Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and former MP Ajay Sancheti apart from MLC Girish Vyas persuaded and took keen interest in the matter, things have started falling in place and with pace.
‘The Hitavada’ has in its possession a copy of site plan and copy of quotation which has been submitted by VHA.
According to the site plan, VHA has demanded Rs 12 crore for construction of stadium 
including two spectators galleries of 5000 seating capacity each on either side of the pitch, 
VIP box, parking space for two wheelers and cars beneath the sitting tiers.
The cost of construction of playing turf has been quoted at Rs 4 crore for 6151.85 sq metres (Rs 6500 per se mtr).
The cost of installing and laying of complete water sprinkler system, drainage system, steel chain link fencing for turf, complete water management including bore wells, waste water treatment, recycling chain for water along with pump room, RCC drain etc, two motors of 40 HP, four electricity poles with required luminous potential to lit stadium has been quoted at Rs 3 crore.
Similarly, the construction of stadium with seating arrangement of around 10,000 spectators, dressing rooms with international standard, separate toilet blocks for men and women, VIP box and selectors seating arrangements has been quoted at Rs 5 crore.
The site plan and proposal are with the Sports Ministry, New Delhi and VHA is expecting that their long pending demand is accepted at the earliest.
The site plan and quotation was prepared by The Architectural and Design Studio.