Call to improve facilities at CPT ground

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Residents of North Chennai have requested the Chennai Port Trust (CPT) to augment facilities at the Shri Babu Jagjivan Ram Sports Stadium, the only big ground at Tiruvottiyur.

The stadium located near the CPT employees’ quarters has produced numerous sportspersons including stars in athletics and boxing.

National 110-metre hurdles silver medallist K. Thiagarajan of Tondiarpet and national boxing middleweight silver medallist D. Narmada of Tiruvottiyur practise here every day. “I have been training in this ground since 2004,” Narmada told this newspaper.

The stadium is visited by at least 1,500 people including walkers from Tiruvottiyur, Royapuram, Tondiarpet, Washermanpet, Korukkupet and Kasimedu every day. Local athletes as well as CPT employees practice football, volleyball, badminton, boxing and basketball in the open ground.

“On rainy days we are not able to practise. We are forced to go to Nehru Stadium at Central, which is four kilometres away. If the Port Trust can build an indoor stadium it would be very useful for local residents and also for aspiring young sportspersons,” said Mr R. Arokia Raj, a police sub-inspector in Tiruvottiyur.

Though built for CPT employees’ use, secretary of the CPT Welfare Committee Mr S. Purushothaman said that the stadium was open to the public between 5 am and 8 am and 4 pm and 8 pm.

“We even allow schools and colleges to conduct sports events during the day with prior permission,” he added.

On Monday, when Union Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan visited the stadium, athletes and CPT officials requested him to build an indoor stadium to help sportspersons hone their skills in North Chennai.

“There is space for an indoor stadium as well as a swimming pool here,” said CPT employee Mr Murthy, who comes to the stadium to play badminton every morning.

When contacted, CPT chairman Mr Atulya Misra said that the Port would consider building an indoor stadium. “Once we are financially stable we will plan to develop the stadium,” he added.