Mysuru's Promised Velodrome and Sports Academies Face Three-Year Land Allocation Deadlock
The Karnataka state government's ambitious plans to boost sports infrastructure in Mysuru have hit a significant roadblock, with multiple high-profile projects remaining stalled for years due to a critical lack of allocated land. Despite budgetary approvals and funding releases, progress has been virtually non-existent, leaving athletes and sports enthusiasts in limbo.
Budgetary Allocations Meet Bureaucratic Hurdles
In the 2024 state budget, the government announced the construction of a velodrome—a specialized track-cycling arena featuring a steeply banked oval track—in Mysuru, releasing Rs 10 crore specifically for this project. The velodrome was intended to train cyclists for national and international competitions, addressing a gap in the region's sports facilities.
However, this is not an isolated case. Three years prior, the government had also sanctioned Rs 6 crore to the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES) to establish academies for volleyball, kho kho, and wrestling in Mysuru. Shockingly, these projects too have made no headway, stalled for the identical reason: the unavailability of land.
A Multi-Discipline Sports Complex Vision Remains Unfulfilled
The DYES had envisioned housing the velodrome alongside the wrestling, kho kho, and volleyball academies under one roof by constructing a comprehensive multi-discipline sports complex. To realize this plan, the department formally requested the Mysuru Development Authority (MDA) to provide 18 acres of land in the Hanchya-Sathagalli area, near the Visvesvaraya Technological University Regional Centre campus.
Despite submitting a formal land sanction request and even bringing the matter to the attention of the urban development ministry, the land has not been allocated. This bureaucratic impasse has persisted for three years since the projects were initially sanctioned, highlighting systemic delays in infrastructure development.
Mysuru's Wrestling Tradition Neglected Amid Delays
Compounding the issue is Mysuru's rich wrestling legacy, historically patronized by the Wadiyars, which continues to be overlooked. The district still lacks a dedicated wrestling academy, and the government has failed to appoint even a single coach to train athletes at national or international levels. This neglect stands in stark contrast to the region's strong sporting traditions and potential.
Government Efforts and Cyclist Appeals for Action
Bhaskar Nayak, Mysuru Assistant Director of Youth Empowerment and Sports, revealed to TOI that the department has escalated the velodrome land issue to the Chief Minister's level. The primary stumbling block remains the unsettled cost of funding for the land. Nayak expressed optimism, noting that the CM is expected to finalize funding modalities after the next cabinet meeting and announce it soon.
"The CM is keen on setting up this project in his home district in Mysuru. Once state government clears land for the project through MDA, the multi-sports complex, along with construction of hostels for sports enthusiasts, will begin," Nayak stated.
Echoing the urgency, Lokesh, a local cyclist, appealed to the state government to expedite the project. "As the state government in Tamil Nadu has already constructed a velodrome three years ago and started to train cyclists, I appeal to the state government to also expedite the construction of the project for the benefit of cycling enthusiasts in the state," he said, pointing to neighboring progress as a benchmark.
The continued delays not only hinder athlete training but also reflect broader challenges in translating budgetary promises into tangible sports infrastructure, underscoring the need for streamlined land allocation processes in Karnataka's development agenda.
