After Lajpat pilot, PWD plans sports complex underneath Naraina flyover

New Delhi: After undertaking a pilot project under the Lajpat Nagar flyover, the Public Works Department (PWD) plans to start a sports arena under the Naraina flyover.Earlier this year, the department had decided to develop spaces under the flyovers for useful infrastructure like offices, mohalla clinics and sports complexes rather than leaving them open to encroachments, often by homeless people.The facility under the Lajpat Nagar flyover, however, is incomplete and works more like a store room than a sports complex. As part of the streetscaping project, a portion under the flyover was painted with multiple colours and the facility was supposed to have full-fledged badminton and squash courts to help people play in an otherwise concrete neighbourhood.According to officials, the plan for the Naraina flyover is ready, but the work is yet to start. “This is going to be a unique experience. Sports facilities will include seven badminton courts, one volleyball court and a skating court,” said Durgesh Pathak, the MLA of the Rajendra Nagar constituency under which the flyover falls. A kabaddi court will also be built, the MLA added. “The sports facility will have all the requisites, including changing rooms and sitting arrangements for people. Since these facilities will be equipped with light arrangements, one will be able to play till the midnight,” Pathak said. In June, the department carried out a survey of all its flyovers to use the vacant land under them. According to the availability of space, sports complexes, electric vehicle charging stations, government offices, green zones and similar activities are being planned. The idea is to protect the space from encroachment, PWD had said during the survey.