Uttar Pradesh’s sports infra steadily grabbing attention
Lucknow| In a significant move to boost sports and support athletes in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government has earmarked a substantial Rs 1,950 crore in the 2024-2025 budget for the development of sports infrastructure across districts. This allocation, which is 67 per cent up compared to that of 2023-24, underscores the government’s dedication to fostering a robust sporting ecosystem and providing valuable opportunities for players across the state.
Additionally, recognizing the need for quality training, the government has arranged for 50 international players to provide training to residents of sports hostels at an honorarium of Rs 1.50 lakh per month. The Yogi government proposes Rs 50 crore for private participation in sports infrastructure construction and allocates another Rs 50 crore for an award scheme for winners in national and international competitions. A proposed provision of Rs 12 crore underscores the Yogi government’s commitment to establishing a Sports Science and Injury Centre. This initiative aims to facilitate proper treatment of players’ injuries and enhance overall sports healthcare in the state.
Uttar Pradesh government will build a mini-stadium in the native village of Indian pacer Mohammed Shami, whose seven wicket haul in the semi-final against New Zealand propelled India to the final of the World Cup, in Amroha district of the state. Officials in Amroha said that they had prepared a proposal to build a mini-stadium and an open gym at Shami’s native village of Sahaspur Alinagar in the district.
The officials said that the state government had plans to build 20 mini-stadiums in the state and that Amroha also figured in the list of places where they were to be built.
On the other hand, even as International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Nita Ambani and Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur have pitched for India to host the 2036 Olympics, the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has planned to develop an Olympic grade sports infrastructure in the National Capital Region (NCR). The YEIDA Master Plan 2041 has proposed to build a modern Olympic City and Olympic Village comprising 29 stadiums and nearly 5,500 lodging/housing units spanning 5,000 hectares in Noida.
The expansive sports infrastructure will come up in the vicinity of the upcoming Jewar International Airport in Noida, offering seamless and modern road and air connectivity for the prospective sporting extravaganza. Earlier, Thakur indicated that India will bid for the 2036 Olympics due to a marked improvement in domestic sports infrastructure, skilled human capital, and composite growth. “The Master Plan has been prepared in the hope that India may host big sporting events in the future, such as the Olympics. We have proposed to develop world-class sports infrastructure, which will have a multiplier effect on the economy and GDP,” YEIDA Chief Executive Officer
Arun Vir Singh told Business Standard.
He, however, clarified that the Master Plan was not related to talks about India potentially hosting the mega sporting event, nor had the Authority received any word in this respect from either the government, sports authority, or the Olympic Association. He said the Master Plan has been approved by the YEIDA Board and is now at the approval stage with the state government before further actions can be taken. YEIDA is the designated nodal agency for facilitating a bouquet of projects including industrial, housing, infrastructure, etc., in the vicinity of the 165-km Yamuna Expressway that connects Agra with the Noida region in UP. Meanwhile, the proposed Olympic City and Village will also comprise facilities such as sports clubs, sports training facilities, convention centres, shopping malls, theme parks, green landscapes, etc. The residential arcade will be designed to host a large number of participating sportspersons, coaches, and officials during flagship events.
Without commenting on the expected investment, Singh said the infrastructure would be created by the government without resorting to the public-private partnership (PPP) model or seeking direct investment from private companies. He said the Jewar airport would provide impetus to the YEIDA Master Plan, with faster air connectivity and catalyzing economic development in the Noida region.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been zealously positioning the state as a major sporting hub in the league of Indian states.
Recently, UP hosted India’s first-ever global biking event, MotoGP Bharat, at the Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida, from September 22 to 24. The event generated economic activity to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore during the three-day event.
The Chief Minister attended the final day’s event and handed over the trophy to the winner. He also presided over a business conclave on the sidelines of MotoGP Bharat with the CEOs of prominent global and domestic companies. MotoGP stands for Grand Prix motorcycle racing and is reckoned as the gold standard in bike racing globally. It is the oldest established motorsport world championship. The annual event started in 1949 at the Isle of Man TT.
