Jaipur. The Rajasthan government’s budget has given special attention to the sports world. While a provision of Rs 100 crore has been made for the development of sports infrastructure in the proposed Maharana Pratap University in the state, a provision of Rs 50 crore has been made for organising the proposed Rajasthan Youth Games at the panchayat, block, district and state level on the lines of Khelo India Youth Games.Finance minister Diya Kumari has given more emphasis in her budget announcement on the expansion of sports facilities in the districts, new sports stadiums, indoor stadiums, multipurpose sports complexes and availability of sports equipment. World class facilities will be developed for one sport each in Jaipur and Udaipur with the cooperation of Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation Ltd (RIICO) and Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals Limited (RSMM).
New sports stadiums will be built at various placesThe finance minister announced the construction of sports stadiums in Dholpur, Vijay Nagar (Masuda), Bansur (Kotputli-Behror), Chhinch (Gangardtalai), Himmat Maidan Garhi (Banswara), Deeg Kaman, Akola (Bhopal Sagar), Chittorgarh, Ahor (Jalore), Nawalgarh, Kakoda and Buhana (Jhunjhunu), Hindaun (Karauli), Etawah (Pipalda), Kota, Bhim (Rajsamand), Shrimadhopur (Sikar) and Baran. Development work will also be carried out at the Prithviraj Chauhan Sports Stadium in Beawar and the Chitrakoot Stadium in Jaipur.New indoor stadiums on the anvilThe budget includes the construction of a new indoor stadium in Pokhran (Jaisalmer), a multipurpose indoor hall and synthetic athletic track at the district sports stadium in Dungarpur, and redevelopment of the indoor stadium at RD Girls College in Bharatpur. Additionally, to prepare rural youth for sports competitions, open gyms and playground facilities will be developed in a phased manner in gram panchayats with a population of more than 2,500.Sports Academy on PPP modeThe finance minister stated that the quality of sports equipment, sports training, and playgrounds will be improved in selected sports stadiums and sports academies through PPP, private participation, and CSR. An online platform, Speed, will be developed to measure the performance of athletes training at the Sports Council’s academies.New handball academy in Lalgarh JatanThe finance minister announced the opening of a handball academy at Lalgarh Jatan in Ganganagar. Besides, an indoor hall will be built in Pokhran (Jaisalmer) at a cost of Rs 30 crore, a swimming pool and synthetic track in Jaisalmer, badminton, tennis, cricket, volleyball, football and athletics tracks in Bharatpur city at a cost of Rs 15 crore, and a synthetic athletic track will be laid at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Chittorgarh at a cost of Rs 10 crore. The same amount will be spent on the establishment of the Rana Punja Tribal Sports Academy in Nathdwara.
