Bhubaneswar, Aug. 20: Aspiring tennis stars in Sambalpur will shortly get a synthetic court on the lines of the one set up at Kalinga Stadium in the state capital.

The public sector Mahanadi Coalfields Limited is funding the project that is coming up on 120ft X 70ft plot. Mahanadi Coalfields will provide Rs 24 lakh, while the district administration will arrange the additional funds, said land acquisition officer Sitansu Tripathy.

"Preliminary work for the project has already begun. An electric pole and a tree will be removed from the plot to pave way for the construction of the court. We have set a target to complete the work within two months," said assistant engineer of the city's public works department Suryakanta Biswal, who is supervising the work.

"We will also install floodlights at the court so that players can practise in the evenings. There will also be a fencing around the court to keep it protected," he said.

District Sports Officer Upendra Satpathy said a committee would be constituted for the management of the court.

"The court will be opened to the public on a pay-and-play basis. Anyone who wants to use the court to practice has to pay a nominal charge. We will also appointed a coach," he said.