During the Bhoomi Poojan and foundation stone laying ceremony of the Gorakhpur International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the stadium is being built with the support of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry, while another international cricket stadium is also under construction in Varanasi with the help of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said the Gorakhpur stadium will have a seating capacity of 30,000 and will be spread over 46 acres. He added that parking will also be available and another 60 acres of land has been earmarked for a sports complex for indoor games.Describing the project as an effort to improve sports infrastructure and support young sportspersons, Yogi said the state government was providing land for the development of sports without interference.“An international cricket stadium is being built in Varanasi with the help of BCCI. And today, the UP government with the support of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has laid the foundation stone of an international cricket stadium here…the stadium has a capacity of 30,000 people, occupies 46 acres of land and the indoor pitch will have parking for 60 sports games…the government with a twin engine is providing a non-interference ground where the future of the youth will be shaped,” CM Yogi said.Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the Indian Oil Corporation has contributed Rs 60 crore for the project under the Oil and Gas mandate.Puri also spoke about the Centre’s focus on sports and fitness through programs like Fit India Movement and Khelo India launched under Narendra Modi.“I am happy to share that Indian Oil Corporation, which is under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, has contributed Rs 60 crore towards this important initiative…with Fit India Movement and Khelo India, PM Modi has turned fitness and sports into a mass movement…Gorakhpur Stadium which will be built on 45 acres of land and will have a capacity of 0000 to 30 for the youth,” said 0 Hardeeepi.
