Odisha’s Kalinga Stadium set for makeover to host Men’s Hockey World Cup

Bhubaneswar: Kalinga Stadium will be revamped including increasing the seating capacity from 9,000 to 20,000 by end of October next year, official sources said.

The decision was taken after a preparatory meeting held here headed by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi in view of FIH Hockey World League-2017 and Men’s World Cup-2018.

The meeting was attended by Hockey India Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Elena Norman, State Sports and Youth Services Department Secretary Vishal Deb among others.

The official said two more galleries will be added to the existing infrastructure to increase the seating capacity of Kalinga Stadium as huge numbers of spectators will come to watch the matches.

Besides, the State government is planning to boost other infrastructure like hotel and guest house arrangement for the guests, officials and visitors during the global events.

“Apart from increasing capacity of Kalinga Stadium and making it truly international level, we are focusing to provide homestays, guest houses and hostel rooms of colleges and universities as accommodation for players, officials and guests,” said Deb adding all overhead cables in the city will be removed and it will be replaced by underground cables.

He also said that civic infrastructure will be upped in the city and it’s a great opportunity to give a boost to the State’s tourism sector.

The Hockey India seems quite satisfied with progress and steps taken by the State government to host the big events.

“Everything is being organised perfectly. We are quite happy with the steps being taken by the Odisha government in order to host the matches. We had demanded increasing the seating capacity at the stadium and they are ready for it,” said Hockey India CEO Elena Norman.

Worth mentioning, the Hockey World League will be held between December 1 and 10, the Hockey World Cup will take place from November 24 to December 16, 2018.