To boost sports activities and nurture young talent among its personnel, the South East Central Railway (SECR) Nagpur Division is set to develop a cricket ground at Kalamna in East Nagpur. Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Deepak Gupta has approved a budget of ₹92 lakh for the project.
According to a media report, Dilip Singh, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager and Sports Officer of SECR Nagpur Division, said the division has ample land available, and discussions were underway on how best to utilise it for the benefit of employees and their families.
During a recent Sports Council meeting, the need for a dedicated sports ground within the South East Central Railway (SECR) Nagpur Division was brought into focus. Currently, the division operates only a football ground at Motibagh, which has played a key role in grooming SECR’s football team—known for its dominance in the local football league. However, officials acknowledged that the existing facility is inadequate for expanding into other sporting disciplines. During the meeting, attention turned to a vacant 10-acre plot of railway land available at Kalamna in East Nagpur.
The council unanimously approved a proposal to develop a cricket ground on the site, considering the sport’s wide popularity and potential to be developed quickly. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager and Sports Officer Dilip Singh explained that the new ground will serve as a platform to nurture cricketing talent among SECR personnel and promote a more diverse sporting culture in the division.
Currently, due to the lack of a dedicated cricket ground, the SECR team has to rely on the Ajni Sports Ground of Central Railway’s Nagpur Division for practice and hosting tournaments. At present, the proposal is in the planning stage. A tender will soon be floated for the development of cricket pitches and other required facilities.
Aniruddha Sarwate from the Sports Cell mentioned that the target is to complete the cricket ground before March, allowing practice sessions to begin in the summer.
The Sports Council has approved the proposal to include two pavilions and other essential facilities for the cricket team in the first phase. Additionally, the ground will be developed with a boundary wall, and plans include installing four wide screens to prevent outside interference during matches, added Sadavarte.
A sprinkler system will be installed on the ground to keep the grass in good condition throughout the year. In the future, if needed, stands for spectators can be built. However, that will require extra funds and a separate proposal. If this happens, people living nearby will benefit the most.
Sadawarte also shared that the Sports Council is planning to start a year-round cricket academy at Kalamna ground. This academy could become very popular, especially in East Nagpur, where there are very few sports facilities available for young players.
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