Youth Affairs and Sports Minister of J&K Satish Sharma proposed ₹600 crores for Sports Infrastructural Development In The UT
A bold ₹600 crore proposal has been sent to the Centre for 10 Border Sports & Employment Hubs over five years.
The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) is done watching from the sidelines. After Srinagar’s Salin Bin Farooq bagged a gold medal in Khelo India Beach Games in Pencak Silat, the women are ready to take charge. In a historic development, the UT women’s cycling team participated in the national event at the Khelo India Asmita League in Kurukshetra, Haryana, for the first time. The team couldn’t claim any medals but gained valuable exposure. To further promote the sporting movements in the future, the UT’s cabinet minister Satish Kumar requested financial aid of ₹600 crore from the centre to provide better sports infrastructure and amenities.
On January 9, 2026, he met Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, submitting a memorandum seeking ₹600 crore over five years for 10 Border Sports & Employment Hubs in J&K, plus funds for cricket stadiums, water sports centers, apprenticeships (₹300 crore), coach support (₹150 crore), and livelihood winter sports (₹120 crore) in areas including Gurez, Tangdhar and Teetwal.
Promotion of Cricket, Water, and Winter Sports
The minister proposed the construction of international standard cricket stadiums to host national or international games. He also requested the revival of the construction work for the Arun Jaitely International Cricket Stadium that has been stalled for years now. This will not only promote cricket in the UT but also help in talent identification from grassroot level.
To lay emphasis on water and winter sports, Sharma requested the establishment of a National Water Sports Centre of Excellence at Basohli in Kathua by upgrading facilities at the Ranjit Sagar Dam, and proposed declaring Jammu and Kashmir as India’s national hub for paddle and water sports. He also pressed for expediting the long-pending National Winter Sports Centre of Excellence at Gulmarg.
Other Proposals
The Minister further proposed the creation of a Border Sports Development Circuit encompassing Kathua–Samba, Akhnoor–Chhamb, Poonch–Nowshera–Rajouri, Uri–Baramulla–Kupwara, and Karnah–Gurez. The initiative includes special grants for Dangal akharas, cycling tracks, hockey and football grounds, as well as sports equipment in border panchayats to boost grassroots participation. In addition, he suggested establishing modern youth hostels in Jammu and Srinagar under the Khelo India framework, along with a dedicated scheme to appoint national and international-level coaches on a contractual basis.
On-Going Projects in J&K
Yasha Mudgal, commissioner secretary, youth services and sports, recently chaired a meeting to review SASCI projects highlights the developments such as Khel Gaon at Budgam, a synthetic track, water sports facility at Manasbal, a gymnastics hall at Gindun Rajbagh, an indoor multipurpose stadium at Khour, and Centres of Cricket Excellence in Srinagar, Jammu, Anantnag, and Udhampur. Emphasis was placed on the timely competition of the projects and the Kheo India initiatives by March 2026
Key 2025 Developments
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah laid foundation stones for six sports projects in Ganderbal in October 2025, including upgrades to Beehama Stadium, Madr-e-Meherban Stadium, and playfields at Gund Rehman, Manigam, Wakura, and Batwina. J&K has five Khelo India infrastructures, including athletic tracks and hockey fields. Renovations like Bakshi Stadium to FIFA standards and Maulana Azad Stadium to ICC norms continue to support multi-sport events.