11 yrs on, stadium still incomplete

Shyam Sood

Rajouri, January 16

Eleven years have passed since the day PWD (R&B) started the construction of the sports stadium in Rajouri town but so far the work has not been completed. Officials concerned said the main reason was delay in the release of funds on time.

The project was initially taken by the PWD (R&B) in 2009 at a cost of Rs722.15 lakh. During the past 10 years, funds worth only Rs152 lakh could be released that forced the authorities to halt the construction work. The contractor completed the Indoor stadium except the CGI sheet roofing of skating and badminton halls and aluminum frames while in the outdoor stadium only play field /sitting tiers were completed.

In the absence of funds the contractor abandoned the work. As there is no other playground in the town, except inside the district police lines, people mounted pressure on the authorities for the completion of sports stadium.

In February this year, the matter was also raised by the sportsmen/ prominent citizens before the Divisional Commissioner during his visit to Rajouri.

On public demand, the sports stadium was included in 15 major languishing projects of Rajouri district. Mohd Zubair, Executive Engineer, PWD (R&B), informed the cost of construction of the indoor and outdoor stadiums is Rs 5.64 crore sanctioned under the languishing projects. “The indoor stadium is in the final stage while work on the outdoor stadium stands completed in all respects. Facilities for badminton, tennis and skating have been provided in the indoor stadium” said Mohd Zubair.