BY Kavita Sharma
Photo Credit: The Suncity News
Patna, June 6, 2026: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Saturday chaired a high-level review meeting of the state’s sports departments and directed officials to accelerate the development of world-class sporting infrastructure across Bihar.
He asserted that the state would provide Olympic-standard facilities to nurture athletes capable of competing at the international level.
During the meeting, sports department secretary Vinod Singh Gunjiyal presented a detailed overview of ongoing projects, sports infrastructure development, athlete welfare schemes, incentive programs, and the department’s future roadmap.
Samrat Choudhary said the government is committed to transforming Bihar into a major sporting hub through phased infrastructure development.
He highlighted that talented athletes are being encouraged through the state’s Medal Lao, Naukri Pao Bring a medal, get a job) scheme, under which successful sports persons receive employment opportunities alongside training and financial support.
Samrat Choudhary directed officials to expedite the Rajgir cricket stadium by December this year:
The Bihar Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that the international cricket stadium under construction in Rajgir is completed by December 31, 2026.
He also instructed the department to develop separate international-standard stadiums for various sports disciplines at Dumri Sports Complex in Patna.
Samrat Choudhary further asked officials to coordinate with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Bihar Cricket Association to expedite the redevelopment of the historic Moin-ul-Haq Stadium.
He stressed the need for improved road and transport connectivity to the stadium to effectively manage crowds during major sporting events.
Reviewing rural sports development, the Chief Minister noted that sports grounds have already been completed in 4,700 of Bihar’s 8,053 Gram Panchayats, covering a total of 5,266 playgrounds.
He directed officials to complete the remaining projects at the earliest and integrate them with the VB-G Ram G initiative.
He also instructed that district-level sports complexes-cum-gymnasiums and block-level outdoor stadiums be completed within a fixed timeline.
The government will explore the feasibility of operating and maintaining these facilities through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Focus on the Bihar sports university and grassroots talent:
Samrat Choudhary emphasized that the Bihar sports university should prioritize courses that promote innovation, have national relevance, and generate employment opportunities.
He also called for regular panchayat-level sports festivals and competitions to identify and nurture rural talent.
Former players, local youth, and community members should be actively associated with panchayat sports clubs to build a sporting culture across the state.
According to Samrat Choudhary, athletes should be provided with quality coaching, modern equipment, and advanced training facilities so they can compete successfully at national and international levels.
The meeting was attended by Sports Minister Shreyasi Singh, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Deepak Kumar, Development Commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh, Sports Department Secretary Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, Director General of the Bihar State Sports Authority Ravindran Sankaran, and Sport Department Director Arif Ahsan, among other senior officials.
EOM.
