2 years on, Phagwara sports stadium far from complete
PHAGWARA: The ambitious multipurpose sports stadium at Phagwara is still far from complete, even as the foundation stone for the same was laid down on October 19, 2016. Union minister Vijay Sampla along with Phagwara MLA Som Parkash had laid the foundation of the stadium, which was to come up at cost of ₹3.65 crore and construction works for which was to be reportedly completed within a year.
The plan was to upgrade the existing Shri Guru Hargobind Sahib Hockey Stadium at Baba Gadhia here to make it multi-purpose sports stadium. The project was to come up on a 2.79 acres of land, adjacent to the hockey stadium spread over 2.5 acres.
The multi-purpose stadium was left half-done in absence of funds. The project, which is funded by director sports department Chandigarh, was to be executed by the district Mandi Board. Dilpreet Singh, sub-divisional officer Mandi Board Phagwara said that they had only received a grant of Rs 1.30 cr, which was spent to construct boundary wall, step stairs and other preliminary construction to upgrade the hockey stadium.
“We have not received even a single penny from the sports department in the last one and half year due to which the project is in limbo,” he said.
Sources in the sports department said that the fund-strapped state government might have scrapped the sports stadium project, initiated by the previous SAD-BJP government.
Phagwara lacked a multi-purpose stadium and local leaders have raised its demand over the time.
The city is dependent on school grounds to hold games.