Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Sanctions ₹60.76 Crore For Promoting Sports Infrastructure In Andhra Pradesh Under Khelo India Programme
After finalizing a ₹54 crore tender for sports infrastructure a few days back, the state government sanctioned ₹60.76 crore under the Khelo India Programme.
Andhra Pradesh is gearing up to become the sporting powerhouse of the country. Just last January, the state grabbed headlines when it sanctioned a massive ₹800 crore grant to build the world’s largest cricket stadium in Amravati with a capacity of over 1.32 lakh spectators (Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is currently the largest in the world with a capacity of 1.32 lakh). But for some time now, the state’s love affair outside cricket is becoming impossible to ignore. Following the finalization of a ₹54 crore tender for sports infrastructure, another ₹60.76 crore has now been allocated under the Khelo India programme.
Key projects funded
The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has approved ₹60.76 crore under the Khelo India Scheme for eight sports infrastructure projects in Andhra Pradesh. This funding, announced on January 8, 2026, targets modernizing facilities in Vijayawada, Chittoor, Srikakulam, Rajamahendravaram, and Guntur to boost grassroots sports. Major upgrades at Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) Stadium in Vijayawada include a ₹9.5 crore 400m 8-lane synthetic athletic track with floodlights, ₹6 crore artificial grass football field, ₹1.5 crore tennis courts, ₹92 lakh basketball court, and ₹1.08 crore floodlighting.
Timeline and requirement
District projects feature ₹14 crore multi-purpose indoor blocks in Kuppam (Chittoor) and Pathrunivalasa (Srikakulam), plus ₹13.76 crore indoor stadium in Rajamahendravaram. The Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) must submit formal acceptance within 15 days, with all tendering, land clearance, and agency selection completed in three months or risk cancellation. In-principle approval covers a ₹14 crore multi-sports complex in the Brahmananda Reddy Stadium, Guntur, pending a detailed proposal within 15 days.
A look at earlier grants
A few days before, tenders worth nearly ₹54 crore have been finalised to improve sports infrastructure across the state. Sports policies from around 17 states, including Tamil Nadu, were reviewed as part of the planning process. Major projects include the development of Kodirammurthy Stadium in Srikakulam, the construction of a modern stadium worth ₹25 crore at Kommadi in Visakhapatnam, setting up a sports school in Vizianagaram this year, and plans for a residential sports school for tribal children in the Araku–Paderu region.
These developments aim to create world-class facilities for athletics, football, and indoor sports, nurturing talent and positioning Andhra Pradesh as a sports hub.