Commissioner/Secretary, Department of Youth Services & Sports, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary on Tuesday, chaired a comprehensive review of the department’s sports infrastructure, ongoing capital works, Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) projects and programmes for strengthening sports and youth engagement across Jammu and Kashmir.
The review, as per a DYSS statement, took stock of the work undertaken by the department over the past several months and set out a district-level roadmap for expansion, upgradation and better utilisation of sports facilities, with particular emphasis on equitable access, athlete development and time-bound completion of projects.
The meeting was attended by Director General Youth Services & Sports J&K Anuradha Gupta, senior officers of the department, Planning, Financial Advisor and Sports Council representatives, Chief Planning Officers, District Statistical and Evaluation Officers and District Youth Services & Sports Officers from across the Union Territory.
A detailed presentation was made on the portfolio of sports infrastructure projects taken up under CapEx, SASCI and CSS, along with the status of ongoing works, funding, execution and future requirements. The department has taken up 210 new sports projects under CapEx and 17 projects under SASCI, with a cumulative investment of over Rs 500 crore. Against these projects, around Rs 160 crore has already been released to the concerned Heads of Departments and executing agencies.
Dr Shahid directed the concerned agencies to expedite tendering and execution while maintaining quality standards and ensuring that projects are completed within approved timelines. He stressed that the focus should not only be on creation of new assets but also on making existing infrastructure functional, accessible and suitable for regular sporting activity.
The Commissioner/Secretary directed Chief Planning Officers, District Statistical and Evaluation Officers and District Youth Services & Sports Officers to undertake a comprehensive district-wise assessment of sports infrastructure, including playfields, stadiums, indoor facilities and other sporting assets.
The assessment will identify infrastructure gaps, underserved areas and facilities requiring augmentation. Existing assets will be mapped and geotagged, and district plans will form the basis for prioritising new infrastructure as well as upgradation of existing facilities.
He called for greater involvement of local youth and sporting communities at the planning stage so that facilities are designed around actual local requirements and receive sustained community utilisation.
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