Bihar Sports Minister Shreyasi Singh chaired a review meeting of her department in Patna on May 27, 2026.
By A CorrespondentÂ
Patna: Bihar Sports Minister Shreyasi Singh on Wednesday conducted a detailed review of departmental schemes and sports infrastructure development at the Sports Department in Vikas Bhavan.
The meeting was attended by Sports Secretary Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, Director Arif Ahsan, Director General of the Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA) Raveendran Sankaran, along with other senior officials.
During the review, the minister stressed the need to prioritise the effective operation, maintenance and utilisation of sports infrastructure built across the state, in line with the guidance of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. She said district sports complexes, gymnasiums, stadiums and playgrounds should not remain limited to construction alone but must be made active, functional and continuously accessible for athletes.
To achieve this, the department plans to move forward with operating sports facilities through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support. Detailed guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be prepared to develop an effective and sustainable system for managing sports infrastructure at the district level. The model will later be extended to outdoor stadiums, major sports complexes and other sports assets.
The meeting also emphasised linking various state sports associations with infrastructure management and training activities. The minister said training centres should be run at the district level in collaboration with these associations, and players must be provided with necessary sports equipment. She added that such partnerships would ensure better utilisation of sports assets while maintaining rational expenditure.
Shreyasi directed the department to invite office-bearers of recognised sports associations for discussions, underlining their key role in improving infrastructure management and providing better facilities to athletes.
The minister made it clear that priority would now be given to strengthening and activating existing sports infrastructure rather than constructing new panchayat level playgrounds. Committees comprising local MLAs, sports experts and district sports officers will be formed to oversee operations of stadiums and playgrounds. These committees will receive initial financial support and will gradually be developed into self-sustaining, functional models.
In a significant decision, the state will name sports infrastructure after historic sporting figures and medal winners from Bihar. The department is preparing a list of such athletes and personalities whose names will be given to stadiums, sports buildings and other facilities.
The minister also directed that all sports infrastructure at block and district levels should be developed under the supervision of sports experts and experienced infrastructure consultants. She noted that structures built like ordinary buildings often fail to meet the requirements of athletes and sporting events. Supporting this view, Sports Secretary Vinod Singh Gunjiyal said that even projects undertaken by other departments or under Smart City initiatives must involve expert consultation to ensure quality and usability.
During the meeting, BSSA Director General Raveendran Sankaran shared updates on the Sports Science Centre, Olympic Training Centre and National Centre of Excellence being developed in Rajgir. The upcoming sports calendar was also presented to the minister for approval and review.
The minister sought a detailed report on all Eklavya centres in the state, including those that have been shut down, and directed officials to document the reasons for their closure for future reference.
It was also decided that a delegation led by the sports minister may visit Bihar Sports University next week to review the progress of students currently enrolled there.
Finally, the meeting underlined the urgent need to prioritise the appointment of district sports officers. Recruitment to 38 posts through the Bihar Public Service Commission is expected to play a crucial role in improving implementation of sports schemes and providing better facilities to athletes at the district level.
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