Udupi to get Rs 2 crore modern Sports Science Center – Pramod Madhwaraj
Udupi: Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Services and Sports, said that a sports science center would be established in Udupi at a cost of Rs 2 crore.
He was speaking after the inauguration of the National Sports day celebrations at Town Hall Ajjarkad, Udupi on Tuesday, August 29, he said that the center will have all sports related health science, sports psychology and biomechanics. After becoming the sports minister I have shown keen interest to popularise sports in the state. Many sports related projects have been planned to in my home district. In this year’s budget, the chief minister has sanctioned two sports science centers for the state and one will be established in Udupi and the other in Bengaluru. A state-of-the-art gym would be established here at a cost of Rs 2 crore. The State government had proposed to start four modern gyms in different places which included Udupi. These gyms will have modern equipment which is used in Western countries. People will be allowed to use these gyms at a nominal fee.
The State budget has also provided Rs 1 crore each for a Women’s Sports Hostel and District Swimming Pool in Udupi. A new international standard Swimming Pool will be constructed jointly by the state and central government at Nejar near Brahmavar at a cost of Rs 8 crore. The proposal has been sent to the Central Government for approval, he added.
The work of the new lawn tennis stadium in Ajjarkad near the indoor stadium is in the final stage and will be inaugurated soon. Once the stadium is inaugurated, Udupi will be second after Delhi in the country in having a lawn tennis stadium in the country. The stadium is being constructed at a cost of Rs 4 crore. The state government has sanctioned the construction of a sports academy in Udupi at a cost of Rs 2 crore, he said.
Earlier the Department of Youth Empowerment & Sports (DYES), Government of Karnataka was giving State Ekalavya Awards only for sportspersons. From this year the chief minister has agreed to give the Ekalavya Awards to 10 sports associations. Udupi district does not have a full-fledged cricket stadium for our budding cricket talents. We have decided to construct a full-fledged stadium in Brahmavar Gandhi Maidan as early as possible. I have directed the deputy commissioner and Assistant commissioner to hand over the revenue land to the Department of Youth Empowerment & Sports.
Two national-level-athletes were honoured on the occasion. The minister also released sports uniforms on the occasion.
Udupi ZP president Dinakar Babu, CMC President Meenakshi Madhava Bannanje Dr. Roshan Kumar Shetty, Prof. Jagadeesh Rao, Harish M U and others were present.