Kartik Pandian Visit Sambalpur To Oversee Various Developmental Works 

Sambalpur: Upon the direction of Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik, Chairman of 5T, and Nabin Odisha, Kartik Pandian visited Sambalpur district. At 6 AM this morning, Kartik Pandian inaugurated the First Mahanadi Half Marathon in Sambalpur. Over 4000 runners participated across various categories.

During the event, Kartik Pandian highlighted Sambalpur’s rich sports culture and the Chief Minister’s commitment to nurturing talent through state-of-the-art facilities. He noted the recent inauguration of the indoor stadium in Burla, constructed at a cost of Rs 27 crore. Additionally, foundation stones were laid for the Sambalpur Football Academy and the Sports Complex at Sambalpur University, which includes a hockey stadium and indoor sports facilities, totaling Rs 100 crore.

Pandian also mentioned the Chief Minister’s directives to construct a new football stadium and modernize the VSS cricket stadium, with an estimated cost exceeding Rs 350 crore, aiming to significantly enhance sports development in the district.

Pandian interacted with players at the VSS stadium, reminiscing about his own sporting background and encouraging them with his participation. He also discussed plans for the Veer Surendar Sai Institute of Medical Science and Research (VIMSAR), prioritizing mother-and-child healthcare facilities and staff residences with an initial investment of Rs 1000 crore.

Furthermore, Pandian reviewed the progress of the Veer Surendar Sai birthplace development project in Khinda and urged officials to expedite the work. He also visited the Maa Samaleswari Temple, interacting with pilgrims to gather feedback on the ongoing development initiatives under the Samlei project, which received positive responses from the pilgrims.