Mangaluru: Mangala Stadium, the only athletic stadium in the city, is set to get a Rs 20 crore upgrade, with the department of sports and youth empowerment planning to convert it into a floodlit facility for the first time.Public works department (PWD) has been asked to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for installing floodlights, laying new synthetic tracks and covering the entire spectator gallery with roofs. Deputy director of youth empowerment and sports, Pradeep D’Souza, told TOI the works will be taken up in phases.Rs 3 crore was sanctioned earlier when Siddaramaiah was the chief minister. The tender process was completed, but the work could not be taken up due to rain. Meanwhile, based on requests from the Athletics Association and the athletes, the need to develop the ‘D-area’ came up to facilitate discus throw, javelin throw, shot put etc. Since it was not included in the Rs 3 crore plans, an additional Rs 1.5 crore was sanctioned. However, when the state cabinet meeting held in Mangaluru announced Rs 20 crore, the Rs 4.5 crore project was put on hold, D’Souza said.“The govt instructed us to prepare an integrated plan of Rs 20 crore that has been allocated. As per district minister UT Khader’s instructions, directions have been issued to PWD to draft a comprehensive plan of Rs 20 crore. We have already briefed PWD engineers and they inspected the stadium,” he said.The first requirement is a new synthetic track, as the current one was laid around 2012–13. The side drains, also old, need to be rebuilt. Floodlights are required for day and night events as well as for athletes’ training in the evenings. The stadium currently has just small lights, which are not adequate. Hence, large towers with clustered high-mast lights have been planned, he said.Master Plan of ₹40 croreD’Souza said that keeping in mind national events, the minister instructed the department to arrange roofing and proper seating facilities. “We suggested making an overall master plan not just limited to Rs 20 crore, but an expansive plan outlining what it would cost to do it in phases. The minister suggested that even if the estimate goes up to Rs 40 crore, there won’t be an issue. We have asked the PWD to prepare a comprehensive DPR. Within that, they will define what comes under Phase 1 within this year’s Rs 20 crore budget, what goes into Phase 2, and so on. The architect and executive engineers have been told to prepare it within 15 days,” he said.The stadium currently has an 80-metre-long pavilion built under the Smart City Mission at a cost of Rs 10 crore. The department plans to build an identical block with space for indoor games, table tennis and athletes, he added.
