Mangaluru : Minister for Youth Empowerment & Sports Abhayachandra Jain has said additional funds for development of Mangala Stadium especially for extension of gallery will be sought from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during his visit to Mangaluru.

He said majority of events will be held during the day light between 6 am and 10 am and 4 pm and 6.30 pm.

For the photo finish, there is a need for 1,200 lexes of lights. If it was less than 1,200 lexes, then relay quality will be affected. Hence, all the complex events will be completed by 6.30 pm. A temporary flood-lit arrangements will be made at an estimated cost of Rs 22 lakh. He ruled out the possibility of installing permanent flood-lit facility.

Stating that Mangalore City Corporation has made arrangement for the warm up area in the exhibition ground, he said that four flood-lit facility has been arranged at the warm up area.

The minister said lawns have been grown adjacent to the synthetic track laid at Mangaluru, Udupi and Moodbidri. A sum of Rs 20 lakh has been utilised for the purpose.

“By hosting Federation Cup we are expecting to give a facelift to the Mangala Stadium. A borewell has been drilled and sprinkler facilities has been provided to the lawn at the Mangala Stadium,” he said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate Federation Cup on April 30. Athletics Federation of India President Adille J Sumariwalla will hoist the flag. Bollywood actor Sunil Shetty and Miss India Runners Up Afreena Vaz will be star attraction at the inaugural event. The valedictory of the event will be held on May 4.

Dakshina Kannada Athletics Federation President Manjunath Bhandary said that grand opening ceremony has been planned under the guidance of Alva’s Education Trust Chairman Dr M Mohan Alva. Variety of cultural programmes will be held during all the five-days.

The food committee has made arrangements for the supply of food for the athletes and other staff. Rooms have already been booked for the athletes, he added.

The Nada Kacheri beside the Stadium which is a heritage structure has been upgraded in memory of the Federation Cup, at an estimated cost of Rs nine lakh to provide facilities for the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA).

A total of 48 events will be held. About 75 per cent of the materials required for the event has reached. All the materials will be ready by April 26. Materials worth Rs 60 lakh has been purchased by the State government.

A total of 700 delegates and 200 technical staff will be attending the event. Veteran ace sprinter P T Usha said that she has been holding training sessions for her tutors since several months at the Stadium. The site facility has been improved. “I am happy that Karnataka is hosting the Federation Cup.