Agartala, July 23, 2024: The state government is taking significant steps to popularize various sports among people from all walks of life, said Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the newly installed floodlights at Umakanta Mini Stadium, he highlighted the state’s ongoing efforts to develop advanced sports infrastructure.
The Chief Minister noted, “To ensure our young athletes can participate successfully in national and international competitions, the state government is working with great dedication.” He mentioned that modern sports facilities, including synthetic turf football fields, multi-purpose sports buildings, athletic tracks, synthetic hockey fields, swimming pools, and open gymnasiums, are being established across various districts and subdivisions of the state.
The transformation of Umakanta Ground into a synthetic turf football field, complete with high-capacity floodlights, involved an expenditure of approximately ₹5 crore. With these floodlights, football matches can now be organized not only in the morning and evening but also at night, significantly enhancing the scope of sports activities in the region.
The Chief Minister expressed hope that the new infrastructure will allow the state to host national-level sports competitions, providing local athletes the opportunity to showcase their talents on a larger stage.
Also present at the event were MLA Deepak Majumder, Chief Minister’s Secretary Dr. Pradip Kumar Chakraborty, and Tripura Pradesh BJP president Rajib Bhattacharjee. Following the inauguration, the Umakanta Ground hosted the title-deciding playoff match of the Tripura Football Association’s Third Division League, featuring Saroj Sangha and Eikatan Yuva Sangstha.