Chief Minister Dr. Goa Cricket Association President Suraj Lotlikar and Secretary Vipul Phadke paying a courtesy call on Pramod Sawant.
The Goa Cricket Association on Thursday, December 23, said that GCA has received approval for a cricket stadium from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
"The foundation stone of the Dhargal International Cricket Stadium project will be laid soon," GCA president Lotlikar said.
Goa will soon have an international cricket stadium as GCA is moving ahead with plans to construct a stadium at Dhargal.
"The required approval for the stadium project has been received from the concerned authorities. This was the goal of the GCA Management Committee, which has now been achieved. The BCCI will provide a grant of Rs 100 crore for the stadium project. The GCA management committee is ready for the construction of the stadium and the cornerstone program will be announced soon." Lotlikar said.
Sports Minister Ajgaonkar expressed confidence that after the construction of the International Cricket Stadium at Dhargal, employment would be available to the locals and development in the area.
Stadium with a capacity of 32,000 seats
Uday Joshi & Associates, the architect of the Dhargal Stadium project, presented a plan for a 32,000-seat stadium. The stadium will cover an area of two lakh square meters. According to Suraj Lotlikar, the Goa Cricket Association has saved Rs 42 crore under the Income Tax Department under the 'Vivad Se Vishwas' scheme.
GCA's emphasis on infrastructure
GCA secretary Vipul Phadke said the association was focusing on building facilities to raise the standard of cricket in the state. He informed me about the various reconciliation agreements made for it.
Phadke also talked about the creation of a residential cricket academy at Porvorim, where former cricketers would-be coaches and help grow cricket in Goa.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured the resolution of all the issues surrounding the Porvorim cricket ground lease before 2022. He also pledged his full support for the construction of a planned international cricket stadium at Dhargal in Pedne taluka.