GMDA has proposed to make a 50m shooting range at Tau Devi Lal Stadium where anyone can get free training.
Sports enthusiasts in Gurugram have something to cheer about as the city will soon have its first state-run shooting range to be set up at Tau Devi Lal Stadium.
According to a latest report, the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has proposed to make a 50m shooting range in the city that will be run by government agency. The range would be open for all. Anyone can get free training at the range.
Talking about the details of the facility, GMDA manager of Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Sukhbir Singh had said that the shooting range will be built at a cost of Rs 2-2.5 crore. The range will have all the latest equipment and players will be allowed to practice here at free of cost. However, the players will have to arrange their own pistols.
Meanwhile, the residents welcomed the news but were also apprehensive of the authority’s track record on delivering its promises.
“Gurugram has many shooting ranges and the sports has also gained popularity over the past. It is good to see that now the government is also taking steps to provide facilities for the shooters. Let’s hope that they deliver on their promise and it doesn’t remain yet another project that never took off,” said Shweta Saxena, a resident of DLF Phase V.
It is a sad situation that a state which has come to be recognized as number one in sports in the country does not have a single government-run shooting range. Though there are many private facilities running, their steep charges are not affordable to many.
Tanushree Chatterjee, a resident of BPTP Sector-66, said, “It's great news. But at the same time every good thing comes with some responsibility. The authorities need to ensure that the range has all the facilities required. If that is taken care of, this would be something we all will be proud of one day as we will produce world champs am sure.”
However, there were also some voices who weren’t sure of the authority’s promises. “It is easy to make news with such things but it is very hard to deliver on them. Every now and then plans are made to develop more sports academies and indoor stadiums, but not many of these make it out of the paper,” said A Singh, a resident of Nirvana Country.
