For Dipa Karmakar's smooth ride: Tripura government to widen roads near gymnast's house

New Delhi: Days after ace Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar decided to return a swanky BMW gifted by Sachin Tendulkar, Tripura government has taken a decision to widen a road ner her house for smooth driving.

According to a report in The Hindustan Times, the repairing work is expected to begin next month.

“The road near Dipa’s house falls among some others that we have selected for renovation. Work is expected to begin next month,” public works department chief engineer (roads and buildings) Somesh Chandra Das told Hindustan Times.

In another update, CPI (M) state unit secretary Bijan Dhar told The New Indian Express that the gymnast had earlier requested the civic authorities to widen the road.

“I was told the road (near Dipa’s house) will be revamped following her request to the mayor and Urban Development Minister in this regard,” Dhar said. When asked about the expenses, he informed that the government would spend approximately Rs.70 lakh to 80 lakh in the project.

Dipa didn't win a medal at the biggest sporting extravaganza, but as a result of her commendable performance, she was handed over a swanky BMW along with other Rio stars – PV Sindhu, Sakshi Malik and Pullela Gopichand.

Dipa, who became the first Indian gymnast to qualify for an Olympic finals event, earlier told ANI that it was a dream to receive such a huge gift from Tendulkar, but she had decided to return it due to maintenance issues.

The trailblazing gymnast told ANI, "See it is not at all like this, I cannot even do that because getting a gift from Sachin [Tendulkar] Sir's hand itself is a very big thing. I got the key from him. In fact, I cannot even think of refusing or returning it back."

The 23-year-old girl from Agartala also said that she had a word with members of Badminton Association of Hyderabad, who agreed to give her amount equivalent to the BMW.

"See here in Agartala, we don't have a showroom or service centre of BMW and, therefore, I asked them (members of Badminton Association of Hyderabad) for any other vehicle which is locally available and they also gave their consent for that. Other than this there is no other issue," she added.

India`s goodwill ambassador at the Rio Olympics, Tendulkar, handed over the keys of the luxury cars to the four sportspersons at a function held at the Gopichand Badminton Academy soon after they returned from Rio in August.