Come January! ‘World’s Largest’ Hockey Stadium To Open In India
Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium can host 20,000 spectators
Named after notable tribal freedom fighter, Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium is being set up in the Sundergarh district in Odisha. The making of the country’s largest hockey stadium is going on in full swing. FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup will see the inauguration of this stadium. 20,000 supporters can attend the matches.
Construction status of Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in oddisa
With seating capacity of 20,000 expected to completed by 2023 pic.twitter.com/dB2Zv8w2gB— Mega-Infro (@Ash18537355) September 3, 2022
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The work at the stadium started in June last year. Normally, it takes around 18 to 24 months to build a stadium of this size. The executive agency of the 200-crore stadium is the Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Odisha. Meanwhile, the Rs 80-crore plus accommodation near the practice pitch is being done by another contractor. Its deadline is October.
Authorities looking for FIH approval for hockey stadium
The 35-acre site includes the stadium and accommodation. It is inside the 120-acre campus of the Biju Patnaik University of Technology. The agency already completed 50 to 60 percent of the work. The authorities are also trying hard to get FIH approval to name it the world’s largest hockey stadium.
Odisha Chief Secretary & Chief Development Commissioner Suresh Chandra Mahapatra along with senior officials today reviewed the ongoing construction work of Birsa Munda International Stadium which will co-host Hockey World Cup 2023, in Rourkela. pic.twitter.com/3RqBjBD2Hq
— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2021
At present, the workforce size is around 400. The employers work round the clock. Once the skeleton structure gets over, the workers will start giving the finishing touches. One of the other major highlights of the stadium is that it is disabled-friendly.
Wall art and murals will also be there besides some light projections. They designed the facade in a way that the cultural nuances of the region are properly maintained.
Odisha and the growth of hockey
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik is an ardent fan of the game. The state is the official sponsor of the Indian hockey team. Most of the stadiums in the country are in Odisha. The state is trying hard to encourage the hockey culture to grow in the country. Indeed, India can feel proud of the new facilities and a big shout-out must go to Odisha who is the ambassador of the game in the country.