New Delhi, Jun 12 (IANS): In its bid to develop infrastructure in the country, the sports ministry on Wednesday announced its Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS) for laying synthetic playing surfaces for football, hockey and athletics and construction of multipurpose indoor halls.

As a first step, the ministry has approved seven projects, one in Goa, Ladakh, Kerala and Uttarakhand and three in Mizoram.

The government will construct a multipurpose indoor hall at Sports Complex, Chaudi, Canacona South, Goa at an estimated cost of Rs.6.25 crore subject to the ceiling of Rs. 6 crore.

A multipurpose indoor hall will also be constructed at Leh at an estimated cost of Rs. 7.98 crore subject to the ceiling of Rs. 6 crore.

The government also has plans to lay synthetic athletic tracks at the universities of Calicut and Malapuram at an estimated cost of Rs. 7.2 crore subject to the ceiling of Rs. 5.50 crore.

The projects in Mizoram are a multipurpose indoor hall at Sazaikawn in Lunglei district at an estimated cost of Rs. 6 crore. The government also approved two synthetic football turfs. One will be laid at Chhangphut Playground at Champhai at an estimated cost of Rs. 4.9 crore subject to the ceiling of Rs. 4.50 crore and the other at the Cyla Ground at Lawngtlai at an estimated cost of Rs. 4.9 crore subject to the ceiling of Rs. 4.50 crore.

The government also approved the construction of a multipurpose indoor hall at Sports Stadium, Kashipur, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand at an estimated cost of Rs. 13.45 crore subject to the ceiling of Rs. 6 crore.