The Hon’ble Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, today virtually laid the foundation stones for six major sports infrastructure projects and inaugurated two athlete support facilities across India, involving a total investment of ₹120 crore. The move underscores the Government’s commitment to building a world-class, athlete-centric sports ecosystem under the Khelo India Scheme and Sports Authority of India (SAI).
The six new projects, costing a cumulative ₹82 crore, are strategically distributed across the country, including the North-Eastern and Eastern regions, to ensure balanced and inclusive sports infrastructure development. Key projects include the upgradation of a synthetic hockey turf in Bengaluru, construction of a multi-purpose hall at Patiala, laying synthetic athletic tracks in Bhopal, Guwahati, and Jalpaiguri, and building a multi-purpose judo hall in Bhopal.
In addition, Dr. Mandaviya inaugurated two athlete support facilities at NS NIS, Patiala, worth ₹38 crore. These include a centralized kitchen and food court to enhance athlete nutrition and a state-of-the-art Integrated Sports Science Centre and Conditioning Hall, offering advanced support for scientific training, performance analysis, rehabilitation, and recovery.
Dr. Mandaviya emphasized accountability and optimal utilization, stating that SAI assets must be properly maintained and, wherever possible, commercially leveraged to create long-term public value. He announced monthly reviews at SAI level and quarterly personal reviews to ensure timely completion and effective use of the infrastructure.
Highlighting broader sports policy initiatives, the Minister noted the Government’s focus on strengthening India’s high-performance sports ecosystem, including the allocation of ₹500 crore for sports goods manufacturing to enhance domestic capacity and global competitiveness.
Dr. Mandaviya said, “Sports is now a professional career, and we must create systems for identifying and nurturing talent from grassroots to elite levels. Our collective efforts will help realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of placing India among the top 10 sporting nations by 2036 and among the top five by the country’s 100th year of Independence.”
The launch of these projects and facilities aims to inspire athletes nationwide, boost performance standards, and reinforce India’s long-term goals in sports excellence.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
