3100 stadiums will be built in Punjab with Rs 1350 crores
Digital Desk, Chandigarh. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, during a high-level review meeting with the Sports and Youth Services Department today, issued clear, time-bound directions for refurbishing Punjab's sports infrastructure and directed officials to complete the work of 3,100 stadiums being built across the state at a cost of Rs 1,350 crore by June 2026.
A comprehensive package was also launched by the Chief Minister which includes setting up state-of-the-art gyms at about 3,000 locations, distribution of 17,000 sports kits at a cost of Rs 50 crore, launch of a comprehensive sports portal and construction of a new Yuva Bhawan at a cost of Rs 43 crore. He said that the main objective of the government is to channelize the immense energy of the youth of Punjab in a positive direction and keep them away from the menace of drugs.
While presiding over the review meeting of the Sports and Youth Services Department here today, the Chief Minister said that according to the new Sports Policy 2023, these stadiums are being built in villages across the state. He said Rs 1,350 crore would be spent on these stadiums which would include fencing, gates, jogging track, level playing field, trees, volleyball courts, stores and other facilities. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the work of these stadiums should be completed within the stipulated time and at the same time the quality of the work should also be ensured under all circumstances.
The Chief Minister said that to channelize the energy of the youth in a positive direction, state-of-the-art gyms will be established at about 3000 places across the state. He said that under the first phase, such state-of-the-art gyms will be established at 1000 places across the state at a cost of Rs 35 crore. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these gyms will include weight lifting sets, benches, dumbbell sets, kettlebell sets, racks, floor mats and many other modern equipment.
The Chief Minister also said that 17000 sports kits will be distributed to the players by the state government at a cost of Rs 50 crore. He said that these kits will include two bats, wickets and six tennis balls for volleyball and football (three volleyballs and footballs and two nets each). Bhagwant Singh Mann directed the officials to distribute 5600 sports kits in the villages by March 31, 2026.
The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that a comprehensive sports portal is being launched by the department. He said that sports lovers and players will be able to get players' registration, online gradation, online DBT, organizing sports events, ground reservation, e-certificate, recording results, pension/stipend and other facilities at a single click. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that trekking, adventure and team activity camps will also be organized in nine forest areas of the state for 10,000 youth.
The Chief Minister said that from coming January, camps will be set up in Pallanpur, Siswan, Mirzapur (Mohali), Tibba Taparia (Ropar), Nara (Hoshiarpur), and Harike Pattan Rakh (Taran Taran). He also said that a new Yuva Bhawan will be built in Sector 42A at a cost of Rs 43 crore. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it would have hostel facilities for 200 youth, an auditorium with a capacity of 400 persons, a conference hall, seminar rooms and other facilities.
The Chief Minister said that the state government introduced Sports Policy 2023 and increased the budget from Rs 350 crore for the year 2023-2024 to Rs 1000 crore for the year 2024-25. He said that hockey turfs in Mohali, Bathinda and Ludhiana are being replaced at a cost of Rs 10.50 crore and these have been approved by the Indian Hockey Federation.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann also asked the officials to complete the work of synthetic track under construction at Mohali Sports Stadium Sector 78 at a cost of Rs 9 crore by March 2026.
The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that Punjab is the first state in the country to have a sports medicine cadre. He said that 92 employees have been selected for this cadre to take care of the players suffering from injuries and to improve their performance. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that every effort of the state government is aimed at channelizing the immense energy of the youth in a positive direction so that they can be kept away from the menace of drugs.