THINGS have started taking shape at the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University Sports Complex in Ravi Nagar. The work of laying of synthetic track has started with the construction company digging boundaries of cinder track. A JCB excavated earth from the boundary of football ground for the drainage line. With a good base under the cinder track, not much work would be needed on that area. The track is expected to be completed in nine months. The ground breaking ceremony was held recently at the hands of Cabinet Minister Nitin Gadkari. The work of making the track has been entrusted to Public Works Department and RTMNU is spending around Rs 11 lakh on the entire project. The contractor for the track is Sports Facilities Company Limited, Mumbai. The track is being constructed as per the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) norms.

 

It will have eight lanes along with steeple chase, jumping pits for long and triple jumps. The entire track would be fenced and will have two gates apart form one main entrance. The track will also have a grass surface football ground in the middle. According to the proposed plan. cages will be in place for hammer throw and discus throw and flood lights will ensure that competitions can be held in night. Recently, a few changes were made in the plan. RTMNU had decided to construct separate lane and pit for long jump and triple jump. “This was not in the earlier plan. But now we have decided to lay separate lane for long jump and triple jump.

 

This will be done near the hostel building gallery. We have space on that side and we decided not to disturb the 8-lane track and create a separate one for jumping events,” Dr Suryawanshi had informed ‘The Hitavada’. Similarly, the university dropped the plan of converting the football ground into artificial turf. “It was decided to replace the lawn turf of football field into artificial turf. But that plan has been changed. We will continue with the same lawn turf but a fresh one would be laid. Special attention will be given to the work so that ground mud would not make way to the synthetic track. We may go for block tiles on the side of the track. The drainage system will also be renovated and slope from all sides of the playfield will be maintained,” Dr Suryawanshi had said.