KU to get state’s first velodrome

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, July 8

Kurukshetra University may soon have Haryana’s first cycling velodrome which will facilitate cycling competitions and practice sessions.

KU’s director sports Dr KS Kala said on Sunday that the state authorities had shown serious interest in the proposal to use university for the sports facility.

“Nearly six-acre of land outside the university campus has been offered for the velodrome. A few months back, a proposal was submitted by the KU which was duly considered. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) between KU and the state Sports Department is expected to be signed soon for execution of the project,” said Kala.

He said if the cycling players were encouraged, the state would be able to get good cycling players.

Meanwhile, the official sources said Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Anil Vij had taken apersonal interest in the development of a sports facility in Kurukshetra.

The state players had bagged the second position in cycling during the 2015 National Games in Kerala. But, since there is no facility in the state, the government intends to encourage this sport, said an official.

Earlier, the gram panchayat of Alampur village in the district had offered the land to establish a velodrome.

But the project was jeopardised on technical grounds.

According to the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), Thanesar, Vikas Chaudhary, as per rules, the common land could not be transferred to a non-government entity.

“The Haryana State Cycling Federation wants the land to be in its name whereas the rules do not permit so. If the Federation agrees to construct the facility with panchayat retaining the ownership of the land, the project may move forward,” he said.

Meanwhile, Thanesar BJP legislator Subhash Sudha, the man behind the velodrome project in Kurukshetra, said he was making efforts to find ways to raise the sports facility at Alampur as the project would further ensure rural development.