The Berhampur stadium. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, Aug. 27: The Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation has started a survey for preparing a master plan for an infrastructure overhaul at the Berhampur Stadium here.

“We will prepare the master plan for a full-fledged stadium here within one month and submit it to the sports and youth services department for consideration,” said Ratan Kumar Agrawal, chief general manager (civil) of the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco).

Agrawal visited the stadium yesterday along with senior officials of the sports and youth services department V.V.S.N. Rao and Sanatan Mahanty.

“The work has just started here. I will depute my field staffs, engineers and architects to make a detailed study for development of a full-fledged stadium here,” said Agrawal.

Director of sports and youth services D.V. Swamy has deputed Idco for a makeover of the stadium on August 5.

The stadium was constructed in 1986 by the Odisha Bridge Construction Corporation Limited. Later, the office of the executive engineer of the Ganjam roads and buildings division took charge of the responsibilities of repairing the stadium and providing additional facilities to it.

The master plan for infrastructure development will be prepared on 17.683 acres, of which 8.5 acres is the land of the sports and youth services department and 9.183 acres belongs to the defence ministry. Provisions will also be kept in the plan for widening of the roads around the stadium.

Sources in the sports and youth services department said the plan would include creation of two basketball grounds, two volleyball courts, an indoor games hall, hostels for boys and girls, three galleries, a modern dressing room, a club house and a pavilion. The two existing lawn tennis courts would also be renovated in the makeover.

“After the revamp, the stadium will host national-level games,” said Rao.

The president of the Ganjam District Cricket Association, Ramesh Chandra Patra, thanked the sports and youth services department for the initiative.

“Though more than Rs 60 lakh has been spent for the stadium’s upgrade, it failed to yield the desired result because of poor planning,” said Patra.

He also requested the sports and youth services department to take steps for expansion of roads around the stadium.