Sec 34 Sports Complex soon to open for public

CHANDIGARH:Remaining shut on account of lack of staff since its inauguration on April 9, the newly-constructed indoor sports complex at Sector 34 Government Model High School will soon open for the public as the UT Administration finally gave a go ahead to the Sports Department on Wednesday to hire the required staff to run the facility.

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 25

Remaining shut on account of lack of staff since its inauguration on April 9, the newly-constructed indoor sports complex at Sector 34 Government Model High School will soon open for the public as the UT Administration finally gave a go ahead to the Sports Department on Wednesday to hire the required staff to run the facility.

The Sports Department got the approval to hire a total of 16 staffers — five coaches and 11 support staff — to run the centre.

The process to hire the approved staff will start from Thursday and the Sports Department is hopeful of starting the complex within 20 days.

“We got the permission to hire a 16-member staff today. The process will start tomorrow and we are targeting to fulfil all the conditions within next 20 days. We are committed to hire skilled staff and it will be done very soon,” confirmed Sports Director Capt Karnail Singh.

“A total of five coaches and 11 support staff will be hired to run the facility. As and when the staff becomes available, we will start the centre. The process to start membership will also start soon,” he added.

Build at an estimated cost of Rs 8 crore, the complex was inaugurated by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore in presence of Member of Parliament Kirron Kher on April 9.

The complex is spread over 2.66 acre and houses a swimming pool, squash and badminton courts, a multipurpose hall and table tennis arena.

Pertinently, the sports complex at Government Model High, Sector 43, was thrown open to public in January last year after 27 days of its inauguration.

“It’s good that the centre will start soon. But the delay clearly shows the lack of planning at the higher level. Even the Governor and the Member Parliament would be unaware that the complex they had inaugurated is shut since then. The lack of awareness and interest at the top level had spoiled the infrastructure in the past and nothing has changed,” a Sports Department official said while seeking anonymity.