Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Madaviya will lay the foundation stone for a multi-purpose indoor stadium to be built under the Union government’s Khelo India scheme at VC Farm in Mandya district on March 14.
Sharing this information with reporters after visiting VC Farm and inspecting the site for the stadium on Saturday, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy said that a well-equipped stadium will be constructed on 1.5 acre land at a cost of ₹14 crore.
“We are taking steps to encourage rural children to take up sports. But more land is required to provide more sports facilities. We hope the state government will provide the necessary land,” he said.
He said that he had initially requested the government to provide land for the stadium in Mandya city, but as the land was not available there, the space was allotted to VC Farm.
“We need about five acres. In the coming days, the sports facilities will be expanded to five acres,” he said.
Electric vehicles
On the occasion, Mr. Kumaraswamy inspected the electric two-wheelers which will be distributed to 388 persons with disabilities during the foundation laying ceremony of the stadium on March 14.
The vehicles are provided under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of TVS Motor Company and Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) under the Union Ministry of Steel.
Plan for the ARAI Centre
Mr. Kumaraswamy welcomed the state government’s budget announcement to provide 100 acres of land in Mandya to set up a research and testing center for the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).
Mr. Kumaraswamy, who represents Mandya in the Lok Sabha, thanked the government and the Chief Minister for the decision and said that an ecosystem must be created to support industrial development in Mandya and everyone should work towards this goal.
“In the first phase, the Union government will invest ₹ 500 crore to set up the ARAI centre. Later another ₹ 500 crore will be invested. Officials from my ministry and technical experts will soon visit and inspect the site. We are waiting where the state government will allocate the land. They will examine whether the land identified by the government is suitable for the project,” he said.
Mr. Kumaraswamy said he has already held a meeting with more than 50 industrialists, including FKCCI officials, to promote the electric vehicle sector in Karnataka.
Provides assistance
Meanwhile, Mr. Kumaraswamy arranged for help for a two-year-old boy from Shivara village in Mandya taluk who is suffering from a rare disease.
In response to the child’s parents’ plea to save their son, Mr. Kumaraswamy arranged support for the child’s treatment by channeling funds from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund as well as providing personal financial assistance.
Published – 07 March 2026 20:45 IST
