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SAAP’s HQ at BR Stadium likely
It seems like the Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) Stadium is losing all hopes of housing the headquarters of Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP). The IGMC Stadium, which is marred by plethora of problems, is facing a tough competition from Brahmananda Reddy Stadium (BRS) in Guntur, which has all facilities to house SAAP headquarters.
Vijayawada: It seems like the Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) Stadium is losing all hopes of housing the headquarters of Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP). The IGMC Stadium, which is marred by plethora of problems, is facing a tough competition from Brahmananda Reddy Stadium (BRS) in Guntur, which has all facilities to house SAAP headquarters.
Though, SAAP is being temporarily run from IGMC stadium, the officials are facing series of problems as the stadium is not wholly- owned by SAAP. While, the District Sports Authority (DSA) monitors the functioning of the stadium, it is owned by Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC). A decision to host the SAAP headquarters here has to be taken by the standing council of VMC but for reasons best known to them, the proposal has not been tabled yet.
As many as 14 State sports associations including archery, badminton, baseball, cycling, judo, cycle polo, arm wrestling, netball, table tennis, atya-patya, cricket, athletics, kho-kho and throw ball are functioning from IGMC, as their headquarters. The cricket pitch is maintained by the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) and its members reportedly, have expressed reservations over SAAP housing the headquarters.
“Establishment of night food stalls, temporary firecrackers stalls, temporary helipad and holding of events other than sports played against IGMC,” opined a senior sportsperson.
Though SAAP chairman P R Mohan stated that IGMC will house the SAAP headquarters, many a times, earlier, it looks increasingly impossible with various sports associations and politicians lobbying hard to set up SAAP headquarters at BRS, one of the oldest stadiums in the State.
Apart from a 400 metres athletics track and a cricket ground, the BR Stadium has a skating rink, an indoor stadium housing badminton courts and gymnasium floor, hockey track and tennis court complex with a gallery. Speaking to The Hans India, SAAP chairman P R Mohan said that the government simply cannot take over the stadium and announce it as SAAP headquarters.
“VMC has jurisdiction over it. BRS on the other hand is wholly-owned by SAAP and will not have any judicial issues, if headquarters was located on the stadium premises. As of now development works were being taken up at BRS with an estimated cost of Rs 8 crore to modernise the gallery and administrative building,” he added. Mohan said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has instructed the officials to shift the headquarters from Hyderabad before June 2.
“Measures will be taken to complete the development works in stipulated time to expand SAAP operations for promoting budding sports talent among the youth in the State,” he said.
