Infrastructure for cycling received a boost in India with the inauguration of an outdoor velodrome at KIIT & KISS campus in Bhubaneswar yesterday. Named after Odisha cycling Arjuna Awardee Minati Mohapatra, the international-standard 250-metre concrete-surface velodrome is the first of its kind in India.

Hitherto India had only one international-standard 250m velodrome in Delhi. The Commonwealth Games Velodrome at Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi, however, is an indoor one with wooden surface. Of course, more than a dozen velodromes exist across the country. But all these track cycling arenas are of 333.33m or 500m size.

The Minati Mohapatra Cycling Velodrome was inaugurated by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, in the presence of Cycling Federation of India Secretary General, Maninder Pal Singh, KIIT & KISS founder, Dr Achyuta Samanta, KIIT Vice-Chancellor Prof Saranjit Singh, KISS Vice-Chancellor Prof Deepak Kumar Behera, Odisha Cycling Association president Minati Mohapatra and general secretary, Prasanna Rout

According to KIIT Sports Department officials, construction work of the new velodrome was completed in less than two years. Lighting and other facilities will be added in the near future. Equipped with more than 15 AC rooms, the velodrome also can function as a residential track cycling academy.

Since major international track cycling competitions are nowadays held at indoor velodromes, the Minati Mohapatra Velodrome can be an ideal venue for National and minor international events. But for Odisha cyclists, the velodrome has fulfilled a long-standing need.

“Odisha cyclists were competing in National track championships without having the experience of riding on a proper track. The velodrome at KIIT & KISS campus, thus, has come as a boon for them,’’ said Swasti Singh, the most successful cycling international of Odisha and a student of KIIT.

“I missed the inauguration ceremony of the velodrome as I was busy competing in the selection trials for the upcoming 44th Asian Track Cycling Championship in New Delhi, where I secured the first position in 4 km individual pursuit. I will visit the velodrome tomorrow,” added an excited Swasti, who arrived in Bhubaneswar this evening to appear for her BA second year exam at KIIT University.