Coimbatore international hockey stadium foundation laying ceremony likely to be held on April 27

Coimbatore: Deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin is likely to lay the foundation stone for the proposed international hockey stadium at RS Puram in the city on April 27.

Udhayanidhi was to participate in the foundation stone laying ceremony originally scheduled for March 23. But it was postponed due to administrative reasons.

"The deputy chief minister is likely to participate in the foundation-laying ceremony of the stadium and in the inauguration of the jallikattu in Chettipalayam on April 27," an official said.

The hockey stadium will be constructed in two phases. The first phase with an estimated outlay of Rs 9.67 crore will cover construction of fencing, six flood lights on 17metre tall poles, synthetic turf, toilets and dressing rooms. The construction will adhere to the standards of the International Hockey Federation.

A senior corporation official said, "Around 20,000 litres of water is required per game. A sump with a holding capacity of one lakh litres has already been constructed. Water will be sprinkled through a pop-up rain system to enable frictionless movement for players."

For sustainable development and to control water usage, the corporation would incorporate a German technology in the stadium for recycling water used on the turf, he said. "A collection pit will be built with filters. After a process of treatment, it will be reused on the same ground," he said.

The official said the second phase of the project would involve the construction of a gallery, a VVIP entry, a VVIP balcony, administration blocks, rooms and car parking.