GOVERNMENT OF GUJARAT has earmarked Rs 1,331 crore in the state budget to strengthen the sports ecosystem and develop Ahmedabad as an Olympic-ready city, cabinet minister Jitu Vaghani informed the state legislative assembly.
Speaking during the discussion on budgetary demands for the Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities Department, Vaghani said the overall allocation of more than Rs 2,000 crore underlines the government’s intent to build sporting infrastructure and nurture young talent.
“This year, a total provision of Rs 2,006 crore has been made for sports, youth and cultural activities, which is significantly higher than allocations made in previous years. Out of this, Rs 1,331 crore has been earmarked specifically for the sports sector,” the minister said.
Vaghani was speaking on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who holds the Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities portfolio. Meanwhile, Amit Shah has on several occasions reiterated India’s ambition to host the 2036 Summer Olympics. Ahmedabad has also been officially awarded the hosting rights for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
As part of the state’s broader vision to host major international sporting events, the government plans to invest around Rs 500 crore to transform Ahmedabad into an Olympic-ready city.
A key component of this initiative is the proposed SVP Sports Enclave, which will be developed around the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Spread across 335 acres, the enclave will feature multiple Olympic-standard facilities.
These will include an aquatic centre with a seating capacity of 12,000, a tennis complex capable of accommodating 24,000 spectators and a state-of-the-art indoor arena with a capacity of 18,000.
The government also plans to build a modern Olympic Games Village on 135 acres of land at Bhat village near Ahmedabad, with accommodation for approximately 17,500 athletes.
Additionally, a new athletics stadium with a seating capacity of 50,000 and a modern shooting range are being developed across 143 acres at the Gujarat Police Academy campus in Karai, near Gandhinagar, the minister said.
To further expand sports infrastructure across the state, the government has proposed Rs 165 crore for the construction of new sports complexes in several districts. Another Rs 100 crore has been allocated for the development of Olympic-level facilities at Karai, while Rs 90 crore will be used to build a new hockey stadium in Gujarat.
Highlighting efforts to promote sports participation, Vaghani said the Khel Mahakumbh initiative has seen significant growth since its launch in 2010. The state government is also strengthening grassroots-level athlete development programmes.
He added, under the In-School training programme, more than 1.29 lakh children are currently receiving sports training in 230 schools across Gujarat. In addition, over 5,300 promising athletes are being trained for national and international competitions under a programme that costs the state around Rs 95 crore annually.
