Bhubaneswar: In a major boost to sports infrastructure, the Odisha Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has approved the construction of 89 multipurpose indoor stadiums under ‘Sports Infrastructure Development Project’ at a cost of Rs 693.35 crore. These will be implemented under the 5T initiative of the government.
"The stadiums will have facilities for playing Badminton, Table Tennis, Yoga and Gymnasium etc. These multi-purpose stadiums can also be used as community shelters during natural disasters and during pandemics they can be converted into field hospitals," the Chief Minister's Office tweeted.
![Odisha govt grants Rs 693.35 cr for building 89 multipurpose indoor stadiums](https://etvbharatimages.akamaized.net/etvbharat/prod-images/e8wlpftvias2wjc_0908newsroom_1628516967_113.png)
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Odisha Sports Minister Tusharkanti Behara also took to Twitter to express his gratitude to the Chief Minister for taking this initiative.
"I am thankful to Hon'ble CM Sri @Naveen_Odisha for development of world class sports infrastructure in the state. It will enhance Odisha as an emerging Sports powerhouse. The upcoming indoor halls will also be used as shelters during disasters. This is a remarkable transformation," Behara said.
Striving for excellence in Sports, bolstering disaster preparedness and combating pandemic (50/100-bed hospitals) may be diverse goals, but 89 indoor stadiums approved by Odisha Cabinet in urban areas will go long way in fulfilling what the Odisha government calls the 3Ts of governance - teamwork, transparency and technology.