Football stadium to come up in Chhindwara instead of Jabalpur

Jabalpur is technically perfect for developing sports facilities of international standard, but the game of political privilege deprived the sports fraternity from their due benefits in Jabalpur

Soccer lovers in Jabalpur are yet again feeling cheated due to partial working of the State Government in development of mega football infrastructure. The budget of Rs 10 crore allotted by the Central Government for establishment of international-level football stadium in Jabalpur has been diverted to Chhindwara district by the State Government. Construction of football stadium has been started with the initial budget of Rs 2.50 lakh in Chhindwara.

Establishment of international-level football stadium in Chhindwara will prove troublesome for the players and officials due to poor rail and air connectivity. Jabalpur is technically perfect for developing sports facilities of international standard, but the game of political privilege deprived the sports fraternity from their due benefits in Jabalpur. It may be noted that, Jabalpur is a prime centre of football in the State and also, houses the headquarters of Madhya Pradesh Football Association since decades.

Considering the contribution of Jabalpur in promotion of football in the State, the Ministry of Sports, Government of India had sanctioned the budget of Rs 10 crore for construction of international level football stadium in Jabalpur. Disappointingly, the State Government has diverted the project and sanctioned the initial budget of Rs 2.50 crore to Chhindwara district. President of Madhya Pradesh Football Association, Trilok Chand Kochar, while talking to ‘The Hitavada’, informed that, he sent a letter to the Central Government, informing about the potential for promotion of football in central India. He also detailed about the contributions of Jabalpur in soccer promotion.

Taking cognizance of this proposal, Ministry of Sports had sanctioned the budget of Rs 10 crore. The budget could not be directly handed over to Madhya Pradesh Football Association as it was transferred to the State Government for construction of football stadium. MPFA, Secretary, Amit Ranjan Dev expressed his disappointment that the State Government has again deprived Jabalpur of its right and started construction of football stadium in Chhindwara. Establishment of football stadium in Jabalpur is the need of hour for desired promotion of the game. Partial working of the State Government will create hurdles in soccer promotion as Chhindwara has poor connectivity.