Gandhinagar: Participating in the discussion on the budget demands of the Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities Department in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, Minister Jitubhai Vaghani highlighted the all-round development of youth and the growing influence of Gujarat in the sports sector.

The minister said that, with the resolve to make Gujarat a “sports hub”, the government has made a provision of Rs 2,006 crore for the department this year, which is significantly higher than previous allocations.

He stated that out of this, Rs 1,331 crore has been earmarked for the sports sector alone, with several ambitious projects planned to make Gujarat a global leader in sports infrastructure. The proposed SVP Sports Enclave, spread over 335 acres near the Narendra Modi Stadium, will be the focal point of this vision. The enclave will include an Olympic-standard aquatic centre with a capacity of 12,000, a tennis centre with a capacity of 24,000, and a state-of-the-art indoor arena with seating for 18,000 spectators.

Providing details of other major projects, the minister said a 50,000-capacity athletics stadium and a modern shooting range are being developed over 143 acres at the Gujarat Police Academy in Karai. In addition, an Olympic Games Village with accommodation for 17,500 players will be built on 135 acres at Bhat in Ahmedabad.

He emphasised that the initiative is not limited to the construction of buildings, but aims to develop the infrastructure into high-performance training centres after major sporting events, so that youth from Gujarat can train at international standards.

The minister further said that Rs 165 crore has been allocated for new sports complexes in various districts, while Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for Olympic-level facilities at Karai. A decision has also been taken to build a world-class hockey stadium at a cost of Rs 90 crore to promote the sport in the state.

Highlighting participation in sports, he said the number of athletes in Khel Mahakumbh, launched in 2010 under the guidance of then Chief Minister Narendra Modi, has increased from 16.5 lakh to 72 lakh in 2025-26, reflecting the state’s changing sporting culture.

Under the In-School Scheme, more than 1.29 lakh children are receiving training in 230 schools, while over 5,300 players are being prepared for national and international competitions at a cost of Rs 95 crore annually. These athletes have won 170 medals at the national level and 1,938 medals at the state level, he said.

He added that Gujarat has also performed strongly in competitions organised by the School Games Federation of India (SGFI). In the 68th National School Games (2024-25), Gujarat athletes won 117 medals, including 32 gold, 31 silver and 54 bronze.

To strengthen intellectual development, the government has allocated Rs 187 crore for the modernisation of libraries, under which 12 new libraries and 16 solar-powered libraries will be built in tribal areas. The Sahitya Gaurav Puraskar has been increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh, while the Youth Pride Award has been raised from Rs 51,000 to Rs 1 lakh.

For the preservation of cultural heritage, Rs 226 crore has been allocated to the Archaeology and Museum Department for the restoration of historical sites, including Vadimedi in Kutch and Surya Mandir at Prabhas Patan. A Museum of Unity of 562 princely states at Kevadia and a museum based on the life of Lord Krishna in Dwarka are also under development. Events such as Kala Mahakumbh and Madhavpur Ghed Mela are being organised to promote Gujarat’s folk art globally.

The minister said the government is committed to making Gujarat’s youth champions at the global level through sports, employment opportunities and cultural pride.

The budget demands of Rs 2,006 crore for the Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities Department were passed in the Legislative Assembly. DeshGujarat