Bhubaneswar: As part of promoting sports with infrastructure in Odisha, as many as 245 new mini stadiums will come up soon.

The project work of 127 mini stadiums is underway and the construction work of remaining 118 has started in the state, informed Sports Minister Tusharkanti Behera to the House that resumed here in second phase of budget session today.

In a reply to the House, the minister said that the work on 217 mini stadiums has already completed.

Worth mentioning, the state government had started a scheme in 2013-14 to promote sports and facilitate work to local labourers. It had planned to set up mini stadiums both at rural, panchayat and municipality levels at a cost of Rs 25 lakh each. While the state's Sports and Youth Services Department was supposed to contribute Rs 10 lakh, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) funds, MLALAD and MPLAD were to pay Rs 5 lakh each for each project.

However, in view of uncertainty in getting NREGS funds, the funding pattern for the scheme was later redrawn. As per the new mode of allocation, now the Sports and Youth Services Department pays Rs 20 lakh, the local MPs and MLAs contribute the remaining Rs 5 lakh through their MLALAD and MPLAD funds.