CUTTACK 01-Apr-2012 184
Barabati Stadium, the Mecca of Odisha cricket, took a big step towards modernization with the addition of a state-of-the-art indoor hall today. Christened as Sachin Tendulkar Indoor Hall, the four-storied complex has been built primarily to provide practice facility to cricketers during off season. The complex can also be used to stage competitions in different indoor sports including basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, fencing, judo, weightlifting and wrestling.
Set up by Odisha Cricket Association, the indoor hall was inaugurated by Steel and Mines Minister Raghunath Mohanty in the presence of Rajya Sabha Member Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, former minister Samir Dey, Cuttack Barabati MLA Debasis Samantaray and OCA secretary Asirbad Behera.
Dedicated to Tendulkar on the occasion of the Master Blaster’s century of international centuries, the indoor hall has been constructed at a cost of Rs 16 crores, shared proportionately by OCA and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The centrally air-conditioned indoor hall is 185 feet long, 65 feet wide and 44 feet high.
The ground floor features four practice pitches, one store room, one large visitor’s lounge and one administrative room near the entrance. Floodlights have been installed for practice during night or when natural light is insufficient. Adequate number fiber glass openings are there on the roof and side walls for practice during day time.
The first floor has four coaches’ rooms, one large conference hall, one director’s room, one office room, one audio-visual room, fitness centre and store room. The second floor comprises four coaches’ rooms, one lecture hall, mini conference hall, gallery with a capacity for 100 spectators and a multi-purpose hall.
The third floor is equipped with rooms for coach, trainer, physio and video analysts, one multi-purpose hall and two camera stands. The indoor hall can accommodate around 1,500 people if used for the purpose of conference. Wash rooms have been provided in all the floors. Lift has also been installed for easy access to all the floors.
