Bhubaneswar: Odisha sports minister Chandra Sarathi Behera and sports and youth services secretary Vishal Dev, inaugurated Saturday the reconstructed Biju Patnaik Swimming Pool at the Kalinga Stadium here. The pool was demolished last September for expansion of the galleries in hockey stadium which will host the Senior Men’s Hockey World Cup later in the year.
The length and breadth of the pool has been kept intact like the previous one while the depth has been increased by six inches making it two metres and six inches. The number of lanes has also been increased from eight to 10. Apart from these, new changing rooms for both boys and girls have also been constructed near the pool.
Asked about when the swimmers will be able to practice in this new pool, Nayak informed that the pool will be open to everyone from May 15 while the application forms for new admissions will be distributed from Monday.
Talking to the media, Behera said, “Our main priority was to give more practice time to all the swimmers and that’s what we have done. “Whatever facilities were there in the previous pool, that has been maintained, rather it is better than the previous one,” Behera stated.
However, when asked about the absence of diving facilities Behera said, “There wasn’t much footfall for diving but if there is any sort interest from the swimmers then we will construct it later.”
Behera also informed that the state swimming championships will be conducted at the same venue and start May 27.
