Patna: Bihar sports minister Shreyasi Singh has directed officials to accelerate work on the proposed Dumri Sports City project near Punpun. The sports city will be developed on 100 acres of land at an estimated cost of Rs 574 crore. A proposal has already been submitted to the Patna district magistrate and the district land acquisition officer.
Review Meeting Highlights
Senior officials from various departments attended the review meeting on Thursday, including development commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh, sports department secretary Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, Bihar State Sports Authority director general-cum-chief executive officer Ravindran Sankaran, building construction department secretary Pranav Kumar, panchayati raj department secretary Manoj Kumar, and rural development department secretary Pankaj Kumar.
Infrastructure Study and Expert Consultation
The development commissioner informed that two separate teams had studied sports infrastructure models in Ahmedabad and Odisha to ensure effective implementation. He directed officials to engage expert consultants before initiating the construction tender process, so the project can be developed with national-level standards and facilities. Monthly reviews of the Dumri Sports City project were instructed, along with phased development of components based on priority.
Vision for Dumri Sports City
Shreyasi stated that Dumri Sports City would emerge as a major hub for sports development in Bihar, creating significant opportunities for sports expansion, training, the sports industry, and allied activities in the surrounding region.
Proposal for BCCI-Selected Players
A proposal was placed before the meeting to include players selected by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the Indian senior men’s and women’s teams under the general administration department and sports department’s ‘Medal Lao, Naukri Pao’ scheme. If approved, such players would become eligible for Level-9 government jobs.
Operationalisation of District Centres of Excellence
The meeting decided to operationalise district centres of excellence in Arwal, Madhepura, and Kishanganj on June 15. These centres will provide residential training in kabaddi, badminton, and taekwondo respectively. Additionally, football centres of excellence will be developed in Siwan, Munger, and Jamui. The meeting also reviewed the activation of panchayat sports clubs and discussed employment opportunities for athletes in the state.
