Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary chaired a review meeting of the sports department in Patna on June 6, 2026.
By A Correspondent
Patna: Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has announced that Bihar will be equipped with Olympic-standard facilities for international sports, as part of a wider push to strengthen the state’s sporting ecosystem.
The Chief Minister made the remarks during a high-level review meeting of the Sports Department held at the Sankalp Hall in Lok Sevak Awas on Saturday.
During the meeting, Sports Department Secretary Vinod Singh Gunjiyal presented a detailed update on sports infrastructure development, the progress of various schemes, facilities being provided to athletes, incentives and honours, as well as future plans for promoting sports across the state.
Choudhary said that several steps have already been taken to encourage sports in Bihar, including the phased development of world-class infrastructure. He added that young and talented athletes achieving success at the national level are being honoured and supported. To further motivate players, the government is offering incentives under the ‘Medal Lao, Naukri Pao’ scheme, which links sporting achievements with employment opportunities.
The Chief Minister directed officials to complete the construction of the international cricket stadium in Rajgir by December 31, 2026. He also instructed that separate international-standard stadiums for different sports be built at the Dumri Sports Complex in Patna.
Highlighting progress at the grassroots level, he said that out of 8,053 gram panchayats in the state, playgrounds have already been completed in 4,700 panchayats, covering a total of 5,266 grounds. He urged officials to expedite the construction of the remaining facilities and ensure new playgrounds are developed under the VB-GRAM (Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission – Rural) scheme.
Choudhary also called for faster redevelopment of the Moinul Haq Stadium in Patna, in coordination with the BCCI and the Bihar Cricket Association. He emphasised the need to improve road and transport connectivity to the stadium to manage crowds effectively during major sporting events.
The Chief Minister further directed that Bihar Sports University in Rajgir should prioritise innovative courses with strong national relevance and employment potential. He asked officials to accelerate the construction of district-level sports complexes with gymnasiums and explore their operation and maintenance through the public-private partnership (PPP) model. Similarly, block-level outdoor stadiums should be completed within set timelines and managed through PPP arrangements.
He stressed the importance of organising regular sports festivals and competitions at the panchayat level to identify and nurture rural talent. Local sports clubs should actively involve former players, youth and community members to foster a strong sporting culture. Adequate training, equipment, coaching and other essential facilities must be provided to athletes preparing for national and international competitions.
The meeting was attended by Sports Minister Shreyasi Singh, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Deepak Kumar, Development Commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh, Secretary to the Chief Minister Lokesh Kumar Singh, Sports Secretary Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, Director General of Bihar State Sports Authority Raveendran Sankaran, Director of Sports Arif Ahsan, along with other senior officials.
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