Jitendra Singh announces upgradation, new sports stadiums for J-K

Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh announced here today the decision to upgrade two major sports stadiums of Jammu and Kashmir, the Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu and Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar.

Singh was speaking after convening a meeting of the Ministry to discuss some of the pending issues related to Jammu and Kashmir.

He said Rs. 42 crore has been allocated for upgrading Jammu's M. A. Stadium and execution of work has been entrusted to NPCC which will further engage different agencies and added that his Ministry will try to follow up and ensure that the work should start some time after the culmination of the upcoming monsoon season, possibly before the year end.

"The upgradation of the M.A. Stadium will include a modern synthetic athletic track, synthetic hockey track, swimming pool, upgraded facility of toilets, galleries and change rooms as well as provision for latest sports equipment," he added.

In addition to stadiums in Jammu and Srinagar, Singh said the existing stadiums in Poonch and Rajouri will also be upgraded at the cost of Rs. 4 crore.

"In addition to Jammu and Srinagar, there is plan to build 12 new indoor game halls at other different locations of the state. An execution plan is also being worked out for promotion of water sports at Mansar in Jammu and Pahalgam in Kashmir," he added.

Union Secretary for Sports Rajeev Yadav and other senior officers were also present at the meeting.