With Bhopal fast-emerging as a major sport centre in the country, the city will soon get a state-of-the-art cricket stadium as announced by the Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
“As per the announcement by the chief minister we have identified land at four places near Bhopal for the construction of the international level cricket stadium,” Bhopal Collector Nikunj Shrivastav said.
“We have identified nearly 50 acre of land each at Mugalia Chaap, Mugalia Kot, Barkheda Nathu and Fatehpur Dogra villages for the construction of the stadium and a proposal in this regard has been sent to the Sports Directorate for selecting the suitable land at any of the above places,” the collector said. “Once they identify the suitable land, the district administration will allot it to the concerned agency for the development of the international level cricket stadium,” he said.
After India’s World Cup final victory over Sri Lanka in April this year, Mr Chouhan had announced to build a world-class cricket stadium in Bhopal soon. At present, international level cricket matches in the state are held at Indore and Gwalior.
Bhopal also boasts of having National Sailing School at the famous upper lake where national-level sailing and other water sports have become a regular feature. Sports Authority of India’s Uddhav Das Mehta Central Regional Centre is also located in the city at Gora Bishankhedi village, spread across 100 acres.
The Centre has world-class sports infrastructure and hosts the conditioning camp for national men’s and women’s hockey teams. Bhopal is also known as the nursery of hockey in the country and the city regularly holds Obaidullah Khan Gold Cup tournament.
Madhya Pradesh sports director Sanjay Choudhry said that keeping in mind the state’s sports potential, the government has raised the sports budget to Rs 32 crores, which is six crores more than the previous year. Not only Bhopal, but Indore and Gwalior too have emerged as major sports centres in the state.
Indore not only hosts international-level cricket tournaments, but also national- and international-level tennis, basketball, table tennis and shooting championships. Gwalior also boasts of major sports facilities, which included Captain Roop Singh stadium for cricket matches and Laxmibai National University of physical education.