Photo Source; Babushahi Bureau
Punjab Govt sets June 2026 deadline for 3,100 stadiums, plans gyms and sports kits for youth
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, December 24, 2025: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday directed officers of the Sports and Youth Services Department to complete construction and upgradation of 3,100 stadiums across the state by June 2026, with an estimated expenditure of ₹1,350 crore.
The directions were issued during a high-level review meeting of the department, where the Chief Minister also outlined several ongoing and proposed initiatives aimed at strengthening sports infrastructure and youth engagement in the state.
According to officials, the stadiums are being developed mainly in villages in line with the New Sports Policy 2023 and will include basic facilities such as fencing, gates, jogging tracks, levelled playgrounds, volleyball courts, storage rooms and plantations. The Chief Minister asked officers to adhere strictly to timelines and ensure construction quality.
The government also plans to set up ultra-modern gyms at around 3,000 locations across Punjab. In the first phase, ₹35 crore will be spent to establish gyms at 1,000 locations. These gyms will be equipped with weight-training and fitness equipment including barbells, dumbbells, benches, kettlebells and floor mats.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister said the state will distribute 17,000 sports kits to players at a total cost of ₹50 crore. Each kit will include equipment for volleyball, football and cricket. Officers have been instructed to distribute 5,600 kits in villages by March 31, 2026.
The review also covered the launch of a comprehensive sports portal, which is expected to provide online services related to player registration, gradation, direct benefit transfer, event management, ground reservations, certificates, results, and sports-related pensions and scholarships.
Officials informed that youth activity and adventure camps for about 10,000 participants are planned across nine forest areas of the state, with locations including Pallanpur, Siswan, Mirzapur, Tibba Tapria, Nara and Harike Pattan Wetland.
The Chief Minister was also briefed about the proposal to construct a new Yuva Bhawan in Sector 42-A, Chandigarh, at a cost of ₹43 crore. The facility will reportedly include hostel accommodation for 200 youth, a 400-seat auditorium, conference halls and seminar rooms.
In addition, work is underway to replace hockey turfs in Mohali, Bathinda and Ludhiana at a cost of ₹10.50 crore, while a synthetic athletics track at Mohali Sports Stadium, Sector 78, costing ₹9 crore, is scheduled for completion by March 2026.
The Chief Minister noted that the sports budget has increased from ₹350 crore in 2023–24 to ₹1,000 crore in 2024–25. He also reviewed the functioning of the Sports Medicine Cadre, under which 92 personnel have been selected to assist injured players and support performance improvement.
Officials said the government views sports infrastructure and youth programmes as part of a broader effort to engage young people in structured activities and address social challenges, including drug abuse.