Mysuru: The public henceforth have to pay an entry fee to enter Chamundi Vihar Stadium premises in Nazarabad for jogging or walking.

In the interest of safety and development, Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports has decided to levy a fee to make use of the Stadium premises. This decision was taken at the progress review meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner recently. Very soon, the entry fee will be implemented.

Once the order comes into force, the walkers and joggers have to register their names in the Department Office and pay a fee every month. They will be issued an identity card and using it, they can enter the premises.

The monthly pass will cost Rs.50 and for a year the fee is pegged at Rs.500. Even a dress code for the users of the Stadium has been planned.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Assistant Director, Youth Empowerment and Sports K. Suresh said, “We plan to inculcate a sports culture among the people. Hence, we have decided to introduce a dress code. Anyone after becoming a member has to enter in sportswear. We see that people come in all kinds of dresses and if they come in proper sportswear it would look good.”

The Stadium is located on 32 acres of land. All kinds of riff-raffs also come. A few instances are there where the joggers and walkers have been troubled. “Irrespective of the gender or age, we plan to insist that everyone should come in sportswear. Nearly 1,000 people come in the mornings and evenings for jogging or walking. We will know the correct number once we introduce the entry fee,” said Suresh.

As a first step, entry to the Stadium will be restricted. In the morning, it will be kept open to the pass holders from 5.30 to 9 and in the evening from 5.30 to 6.30. “This way we can control the miscreants from entering the premises in the afternoon,” he said.

Fee for safety of sportspersons: The Chamundi Vihar Stadium has many facilities. It has synthetic track, synthetic hockey grounds, two indoor stadiums, wrestling arena, swimming pool, fully equipped gymnasium, badminton, kabbadi, volleyball and basketball courts.

The sportspersons practise using these facilities. However, the walkers and joggers go near all the courts, which are causing problems to the athletes and sportspersons. “Hence, we have decided to levy a fee and the Department has come forward to put in place this rule for the public who use the Stadium to walk or jog in the designated place,”                  said Suresh.