Preparations in full swing for Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup-2018

Bhubaneswar: Preparations are in full swing for ensuing Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup-2018, said an official on Tuesday.

Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi on Tuesday reviewed the progress of scheduled works in the 3rd Executive Committee meeting of the event.

Taking a project-wise review of the progress, the Chief Secretary set timelines for completion of each one.

Further, Padhi directed the home and police department to make detail traffic movement plan keeping in view the convenience of the city dwellers and visitors.

Chief Secretary directed to issue traffic advisories well before the commencement of the event so as to enable people to make their own movement plan.

Development Commissioner R. Balakrishnan advised the concerned departments to align the programmes of cultural extravaganza and showcasing of Odishan handloom & textiles along with the event.

It was further decided to tinge the cultural programmes with performing art of various states and countries.

The issues relating to renovation of stadium for additional sitting facility , construction of new swimming pool, water filtration plant, construction and widening of new internal roads in Kalinga stadium, preparation of the accommodation plan, detail catering plan of the players and officials, travel and local transportation, traffic & security etc were discussed in the meeting.

Padhi set the timelines for completion of these works.

It was decided to complete the construction of east, north and south galleries by 31st May and swimming pool by 31st March. Water filtration plant for both the pitches would be completed by 20th of May.

Secretary Sports & Youth Services Vishal Dev appraised that IDCO has set up a dedicated engineering unit for expeditious execution of the infrastructural projects in the stadium.

Chief Secretary Padhi directed Works department to complete construction and widening of internal roads, drain, food plaza etc by May 2018.

Principal Secretary Tourism Mona Sharma appraised that so far an inventory of 412 hotels in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri was prepared for the accommodation of players and visitors.

Around 78 rooms of PSUs, Technical colleges, Corporation guest houses have also been identified. Around 8600 beds have been made available for online booking for the ensuing World Cup.

Other inventories are being made. The land allottees of newly coming up hotels on Bhubaneswar have been asked to complete their hotels before the World Cup and make it available for the visitors and guests.

Replying to a media quarry after the meeting, Secretary Sports and Youth Services Dev said that Champion teams from 16 countries would participate in the World Cup and Matches would be played in 4 pools.

The countries namely Argentina, New Zealand, Spain and France would be in Pool-A, Australia, England, Ireland and China would be in Pool-B, Belgium, India, Canada, and South Africa would be in Pool-C; and Netherlands, Germany, Malaysia and Pakistan would be in Pool-D.

The Matches would be played from 28th November to 16th December. Each day two matches would be played from 5.00 P.M. onwards. Quarter Final would be played on 12th and 13th December. Semi-final and Final matches have been scheduled on 15th and 16th December respectively.

It may be pertinent here to mention that this for the 3rd time that India is going to organize the prestigious World Cup and Odisha is proud of getting the chance to host it at Bhubaneswar.

India hosted Hockey World Cup for the first time in 1982 at Bombay and for the 2nd time in 2010 at New Delhi. This time it is being organized it at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar.