New Delhi: Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya virtually laid the foundation stones for 6 major sports infrastructure projects and inaugurated 2 athlete support facilities worths Rs 120 crore.
These initiatives mark a significant step in strengthening India’s sports ecosystem and reaffirming Union Government’s commitment to developing a world-class, athlete-centric infrastructure across the country.
The 6 foundation stone projects, with total worths Rs 82 crore, are being implemented under the Khelo India Scheme, with additional support from Sports Authority of India (SAI).
These projects are geographically distributed across the country, including the North-Eastern and Eastern regions, ensuring balanced and inclusive sports infrastructure development.
They include the upgradation of a synthetic hockey turf at Bengaluru, construction of a multi-purpose hall at Patiala, laying of synthetic athletic tracks at Bhopal, Guwahati and Jalpaiguri, and construction of a multipurpose judo hall at Bhopal.
In addition to the foundation stone laying, He also inaugurated 2 completed athlete support facilities at NS NIS, Patiala, with worths Rs 38 crore.
These include a centralized kitchen and food court-cumdining hall to strengthen athlete nutrition services, and a state-of-the-art Integrated Sports Science Centre and Conditioning Hall, which will significantly enhance scientific training support, performance analysis, rehabilitation, and recovery for elite athletes.
He said, “Many sports infrastructure projects are being developed across the country, but the facilities under SAI are our direct responsibility. These assets must be properly maintained, optimally utilised and, wherever possible, commercially leveraged so that public investment continues to create long-term value.”
He stated that monthly reviews would be conducted at the level of SAI, while quarterly reviews would be undertaken by him personally, to ensure that projects are fast-tracked and that the infrastructure created is optimally utilised for the benefit of athletes.
Other than,Dr Mandavia Said, “We must work collectively to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of positioning India among the top 10 sporting nations by 2036 and among the top 5, when the country celebrates 100 years of Independence. Sports Goods Manufacturing has been allocated Rs 500 crore, which will not only strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity but also support the growth of a self-reliant and globally competitive sports ecosystem.”
