Rakh Bagh shooting range misses the mark due to lack of upgrades

Ludhiana: The Ludhiana shooting range near Rakh Bagh is facing several
challenges for a long time now. The facility has been struggling
with infrastructural issues, outdated technology targets, lack of proper
practice weapons and other problems. The sports facility continues to
await its upgradation. .
Officials from the shooting range have requested authorities
several times for the infra upgrade. Finally the district administration is providing the required funds for the shooting range, but the renovation work has not started yet because of the delay in floating the
tender. Sources in the district administration said funds had already been transferred to the department of sports, which will now get the work executed.

Gurjit, shooting range coach, said,” We are thankful to the district
administration, DC Himanshu Jain, for accepting our request for the upgrade of
the facility. I request the authorities concerned to speed up the process
of floating the tenders so that the project can be completed as soon
as possible.”
“Once there are all required facilities available to the athletes, I am
confident that they will get more achievements in their sport and
the training environment will also be improved,” he added.
District sports officer (DSO) Kuldeep Chugh said,” The estimated cost of
the project will be around Rs 31 lakh, including civil work, digital targets and other requirements of the range. The tender will be out in this week most probably and I will check once again with the
officials concerned to speed up the process.”
The delay in processing the official work and long neglect has become a
major concern and the athletes have expressed their opinions about the
situation.
“The range is facing neglect for a long time now. The absence of latest
practice weapons, digital targets, badly maintained infrastructure are some
of the problems that are being faced by many shooters here due to which they have
to shift somewhere else to get the training for their shooting sport. I
appeal to the authorities to speed up the process as soon as possible," said
an athlete who practices at the shooting range here.