Srinagar, Aug 18: Jammu and Kashmir has set out a district-wise roadmap for expanding and upgrading sports infrastructure, with a focus on wider access, grassroots talent development and time-bound completion of projects.
Commissioner/Secretary, Youth Services & Sports, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, chaired a comprehensive review meeting on sports infrastructure, ongoing capital works, Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), SASCI projects and programmes aimed at strengthening youth engagement across the Union Territory.
The department has taken up 210 new sports projects under CapEx and 17 under SASCI, involving a cumulative investment of more than ₹500 crore. Around ₹160 crore has already been released to the concerned departments and executing agencies.
Dr Shahid directed officials to accelerate tendering and execution while maintaining quality and adhering to approved timelines. He stressed that the focus must extend beyond creating new assets to ensuring that existing stadiums, playfields and indoor facilities remain functional, accessible and adequately equipped.
He directed Chief Planning Officers, District Statistical and Evaluation Officers and District Youth Services & Sports Officers to undertake a comprehensive district-wise mapping and geotagging exercise covering playfields, stadiums, indoor facilities and other sporting assets.
The assessment will identify infrastructure gaps and underserved areas and guide future investment and upgradation. Special attention, he said, should be given to border, remote, hilly and tribal areas, as well as schools and colleges, to ensure that geography does not determine access to sporting opportunities.
The Commissioner/Secretary also called for greater involvement of local youth and sporting communities in planning so that facilities respond to actual requirements and receive sustained utilisation.
He emphasised linking infrastructure development with a clear pathway for talent identification, coaching, competitions, fitness and athlete progression, creating stronger connections between schools, colleges, district facilities and higher-level training centres.
The meeting also reviewed the status of Rehbar-e-Khel (ReK) personnel. Officials informed the meeting that formalities for the proposed regularisation of around 1,800 ReKs are at an advanced stage, while a proposal concerning another 500 ReKs has been submitted to the Finance Department.
Dr Shahid directed that the process be pursued on priority with the aim of completing regularisation of all eligible ReKs during the current year, subject to statutory and financial requirements.
The status of Physical Education Masters, Zonal Physical Education Officers and Physical Education Lecturers was also reviewed, with directions to expedite pending regularisation, career progression and Departmental Promotion Committee proceedings.
The Commissioner/Secretary stressed that a strong sports ecosystem requires investment not only in infrastructure but also in coaches, physical education professionals, athletes and institutional capacity.
The review concluded with directions to prepare district-level action plans, closely monitor project timelines and continuously assess infrastructure and human-resource requirements to make sports facilities across J&K more accessible, functional and athlete-oriented
