Mira-Bhayander: Still waiting to be thrown open for sports lovers, budding players and local citizens, the sports complex in Bhayandar which stands completed for the past more than three years is a testimony to the manner in which public funds are going down the drain.
Meanwhile, the indefinite sit-in agitation launched by social crusader Pradeep Jangam to protest Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) apathy, has entered its eighth day on Monday. Jangam has demanded immediate commencement of sporting activities at the complex.
Housing a swimming pool, badminton, basketball, squash and indoor game courts, the structure is already in a dilapidated state, this even before its formal inauguration, thus exposing the shoddy work carried out by civic contractors. Cracks and seepages are already visible on the ceiling and walls of the structure. “It’s the duty of the MBMC to provide infrastructural facility needed for raising cadres of well-trained sportsperson.
Unfortunately, the administration and the ruling governance is least bothered,” alleged Jangam. The much-hyped multicrore sports complex building has been built on a plot earmarked for a playground in Bhayandar (E). Despite multiple attempts, MBMC has failed to attract a single private player to take part in its bidding process for operating and managing the sports complex. “We have revised the terms of the contract to make it much attractive for operators to consider an opportunity in the project.
We are hopeful of successful participation in the current bid.” claimed deputy civic chief Deepak Pujari.
After extended rounds of delays, the sports complex was inaugurated in 2014, by NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, albeit symbolically and devoid of needed sports infrastructure. Since then the sports complex is lying abandoned and in an extremely pathetic condition.
