District admin to maintain N'Games stadiums

Thiruvananthapuram: As part of plans to upkeep the world-class sports infrastructure set up in Kerala, constructed for the 35th National Games, respective district administrations and various sports organisations have been entrusted with the task of its maintenance.

Kerala, which hosted the multi-sporting gala from January 31 to February 14 in seven districts, received over Rs 600 crore-worth investment in the sports sector.

The state-of-the-art stadiums and other infrastructure received wide applause from athletes, coaches and sports experts during the fortnight-long event.

Considering the significance of their proper upkeep, the government recently entrusted respective district administrations and various sports organisations with their maintenance, official sources said.

As many as seven new stadiums would be maintained by the district authorities as part of the plan, a National Games Secretariat official said.

Old stadiums, renovated as part of the Games, will be maintained by the present custodians themselves. The new stadiums will be maintained by district authorities and concerned sports organisations. Some facilities like the astro turf hockey stadium in Kollam district need good maintenance and scientific upkeep, the official told PTI.

Besides the sprawling Greenfield Stadium here, squash court, shooting range, trap and skeet venue and hockey turf were among the new facilities came up in various districts of the state as part of the Games.

Authorities have already decided to hand over the maintenance of shooting and trap and skeet ranges to the state police considering the security and proper upkeep of ammunition there.

Squash stadium would also be maintained by the police, sources added.