Bhubaneswar: The swimming complex inside Kalinga Stadium will reopen next week in a major relief for people for the city.

The pool was demolished to make room for a new gallery ahead of the hockey world cup in November.

The authority's decision to abruptly close the complex last September drew criticism from swimmers and others who used the facility.

Sources in the state sports department said the swimming complex, set up in 2006 for Rs 6 crore, included facilities such as a warm-up pool, a pool for kids, a diving deck and another Olympic-size pool.

More than 200 swimmers used the pool on a daily basis.

That number went up to 700 during the peak summer months.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik will inaugurate the new facility that was constructed for Rs 5 crore and has an Olympic-size 50m pool with 10 lanes.

"We will open it for practice after the inauguration," said pool complex director Manoj Padhi.

The pool's closure had caused major hindrance for swimmers in the state. There was also a lot of resentment among regular users.

During its closure, users used the Odisha Cricket Association pool. However, that was also closed for a month for renovations.

"A number of events were held in the past few months. We did not have a place to practice for those, but now we can breathe a sigh of relief," said state-level swimmer Shradha Behera.

Sources said the new complex will have two pools - a practice pool for regular users and and the championship pool for events.