Civic body developing sports courts under overbridges in Ludhiana
Giving a perfect example of utilisation of resources and bringing them to best use, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has started developing sports courts under flyovers and overbridges in the city.
The sports courts will serve dual purpose. These will help utilise the space and secondly, help youngsters in engaging in sports during their leisure time.
Basketball courts have been developed under the flyover near BRS Nagar alongside the Sidhwan Canal and badminton and basketball courts are being developed under the Lakkar Bridge overbridge.
MLA Madan Lal Bagga said the idea to convert space under flyovers into sports courts clicked when they saw a video in which space under flyovers was being utilised in this manner in Mumbai. The idea of building sports facilities under overbridges has already been implemented in Delhi and states such as Bihar, Assam, and Kerala with Indore being the first city to start the same in 2021.
“After the Lakkar bridge overbridge, we are planning to develop a sports facility under the Jalandhar bypass flyover as a huge space is lying unused there and more similar sports courts will be developed in different parts of the city in the future,” Bagga said.
A senior official from the MC said children did not get enough space to practice sports and at the same time, constraints were also there at many places. But at these sports facilities, they could come anytime. Flashlights are also provided, if anybody comes to play at night.
Rutva, a Class XII student, who regularly goes to the basketball court near BRS Nagar, says since he was busy during the day due to his study schedule, he comes to the place around 9 pm and unwind his day. “Nothing proves best than indulging in sports after a hard day,” he said.
Meanwhile, a BRS Nagar resident, Jasmail Singh, while appreciating the initiative said: “It is a good decision taken by the civic body. I often see children playing at the basketball court and it gives me a feeling of happiness”.
Earlier, the MC had planned a smart vending zone and food street under the flyover BRS Nagar but these projects were dropped.
