Sports Minister Shreyasi Singh chairs a high-level review meeting at Vikas Bhavan, Patna, on Thursday to assess sports infrastructure projects, talent development programmes and the state’s future sports action plan.
By A Correspondent
Patna: “Dumri Sports City will become a new hub for sports development in Bihar, opening wide opportunities for training, sports industries and allied activities in the future,” said Sports Minister Shreyasi Singh while chairing a high-level review meeting in Patna on Thursday.
The meeting, held at Vikas Bhavan, assessed the state’s sports infrastructure projects, talent development programmes and future action plan. Senior officials including Development Commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh and other departmental secretaries were present.
A key focus was the ambitious Dumri Sports City project, planned across nearly 100 acres with an approved outlay of ₹574 crore. Proposals have already been forwarded to the district authorities in Patna. Officials said the project aims to create world-class facilities and drive long-term growth in sports-related sectors.
Shreyasi Singh said that teams had studied sports infrastructure models in Ahmedabad and Odisha to improve execution. She directed that expert consultants be engaged before the tendering process begins and called for monthly reviews to ensure phased and priority-based development.
In a significant step towards grassroots talent building, it was decided that District Centres of Excellence in Arwal, Madhepura and Kishanganj will begin operations from June 15. These centres will offer residential training in kabaddi, badminton and taekwondo respectively. Additional football excellence centres are planned in Siwan, Munger and Jamui.
According to Bihar State Sports Authority Director General Raveendran Sankaran, player selection and coach identification have been completed, and the centres are ready to start. The government aims to make all such centres fully operational across the state by 30 September 2026.
The meeting also reviewed efforts to strengthen sports at the panchayat level through local sports clubs. Officials were instructed to ensure the availability of equipment and resources through coordinated planning.
A proposal was discussed to extend the “Medal Lao, Naukri Pao” scheme to include not only Olympic medallists but also players selected in India’s senior men’s and women’s cricket teams by the BCCI. If approved, eligible athletes could receive Level-9 government jobs.
The state’s sports calendar includes several upcoming events, such as a proposed India–New Zealand rugby series in Rajgir in November 2026, zonal women’s weightlifting competitions, National Javelin Day in August, and the FIH Pro League in December.
Officials warned that delays in construction projects would invite strict action. Meanwhile, 5,266 sports grounds have already been developed across 4,700 panchayats, with plans to cover all remaining areas.
The proposed Sports Action Plan, to be presented to NITI Aayog, aims to link sports with health, education, skill development and employment. The state has also appointed 4,818 physical education teachers and trained nearly 17,000 educators in age-appropriate yoga instruction.
Construction of the Rajgir International Stadium is progressing rapidly, with a target completion date of 31 December 2026. Once finished, it will have a seating capacity of around 40,000.
Concluding the meeting, Ms Singh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a strong sports ecosystem and ensuring timely implementation of all projects.
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