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Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government approved the construction of 89 multipurpose indoor stadiums in municipal, notified area councils, and rural areas of the state in a cabinet meeting in August 2021.
However, two years later, several of the stadiums are yet to be operational. The Works Department has already missed the earlier deadline of January 2023. With the current progress of work, likely, the stadiums will not be operational by the end of this year.
Jeopardized the future of many budding shuttles
The lackadaisical attitude of engineer-in-chief (civil) Manoranjan Misra in completing the multipurpose indoor stadiums has raised questions on the efficacy of the department, especially because the EIC (civil) was himself supervising its progress, even bypassing the officer on special duty (OSD) assigned for it.
Exclusive photographs and videos obtained by Odisha Connect reveal that problems such as water leakage, cracks in walls, and defunct electrical equipment have become standard for these stadiums. Earlier, the Government appointed a third-party consultant agency. Who pointed out in its report that the layouts and building plans of the stadiums were being violated openly. Low-quality materials are used in the construction of the buildings, the agency said.
Questions arise on the leadership quality of the EIC
Not only the delay in the completion of indoor stadiums but also several other unfinished projects in the state have raised question marks on the leadership quality of the EIC (civil). The department has even failed to complete any significant bridges under the leadership of Misra in the last two years.
Sources alleged that Misra was involved in irregularities in the transfer of officers in the department. According to them, Misra is least interested in filling up several vacant posts in the ranks of junior engineers and assistant engineers. He is also accused of posting incompetent officers in vital places such as Sambalpur, Khariar, Khordha, Nayagarh, and Ganjam.
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