Mysuru: The state govt had announced the velodrome in the 2024 budget in Mysuru and released Rs 10 crore for the project, aimed at training cyclists for national and international competitions. However, the project has made no progress because land has not been allotted.Three years ago, govt had also sanctioned Rs 6 crore to the department of youth empowerment and sports (DYES) to establish volleyball, kho kho, and wrestling academies in Mysuru, but these projects too have remained stalled for the same reason—lack of land. A velodrome is a dedicated track-cycling arena with a steeply banked oval track comprising two curved ends connected by straight sections.Despite Mysuru’s strong wrestling tradition, which was historically patronised by the Wadiyars, the district still lacks a wrestling academy, and the govt has not appointed even a single coach to train athletes at the national or international level.The DYES planned to house the velodrome and other training academies—wrestling, kho kho, and volleyball—under one roof by constructing a multi-discipline sports complex. The department also asked the Mysuru Development Authority (MDA) to provide 18 acres in the Hanchya-Sathagalli area near the Visvesvaraya Technological University Regional Centre campus. They also submitted a formal request for sanction of land.The MDA was also brought to the notice of the urban development ministry regarding providing land for construction of the velodrome project. The land was not sanctioned to the department even after three years of sanctioning the project.Speaking to TOI, Bhaskar Nayak, Mysuru assistant director of youth empowerment and sports, said the department had reached the CM’s level to sanction land for the velodrome project. As the issue of cost of funding for land remained unsettled. The CM is expected to finalise funding modalities for the project and announce it soon after the next cabinet meeting.“The CM is keen on setting up this project in his home district in Mysuru. Once state govt clears land for the project through MDA, the multi-sports complex, along with construction of hostels for sports enthusiasts, will begin,” he said.Lokesh, a cyclist, said: “As the state govt in Tamil Nadu has already constructed a velodrome three years ago and started to train cyclists, I appeal to the state govt to also expedite the construction of the project for the benefit of cycling enthusiasts in the state”.
