LS Speaker Birla reviews sports infrastructure; two new athletics tracks planned for Kota Stadium
Jaipur, Aug 5
Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, on Wednesday held a high-level meeting with Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, at Parliament House to discuss the expansion of sports infrastructure in Kota and the development of world-class facilities for athletes. The meeting also focussed on upgrading healthcare infrastructure at the Employees' State Insurance Hospital in Kota.
During the meeting, Birla stressed the need to construct two new athletics tracks at Kota Stadium to meet the growing demand from athletes and strengthen the city's sporting ecosystem.
Referring to his recent interaction with emerging sportspersons in Kota, Birla said the development of sports infrastructure remains one of his top priorities.
He emphasised the need to transform Kota into a major sports hub by building modern sports complexes, upgrading existing facilities, and ensuring athletes have access to quality infrastructure and resources across multiple disciplines.
The two leaders discussed a road map for expanding and modernising sports facilities in Kota, including enhanced training infrastructure, advanced sports equipment, availability of qualified coaches, and the creation of facilities capable of hosting national and international sporting events. Birla urged the Union Minister to ensure the projects are implemented on a priority basis.
Highlighting the city's sporting potential, Birla said Kota has no shortage of talented athletes and that with modern facilities and professional training, local sportspersons can excel at national and international competitions.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya assured full support from the Central Government for the development of sports infrastructure in Kota. He reiterated the government's commitment to promoting a strong sporting culture and creating world-class sports facilities across the country.
During the meeting, Birla also raised the issue of vacant posts at the ESI Hospital in Kota and sought their early filling to strengthen healthcare services. He also emphasised the need to equip the hospital with state-of-the-art diagnostic machines and advanced medical equipment.
The proposals received a positive response, with the hospital expected to be upgraded with modern healthcare technology.
The meeting is being seen as a significant step towards strengthening Kota's sports ecosystem while simultaneously enhancing healthcare infrastructure for workers and residents.
The key highlights of the meeting include two new athletics tracks to be constructed at Kota Stadium, sports infrastructure in the Kota-Bundi region to be expanded and upgraded, development of sports facilities to be aligned with preparations for future international sporting events, including the 2030 Commonwealth Games, improved training facilities, modern sports equipment, and coaching support for athletes, vacant posts at Kota's ESI Hospital to be filled on priority and high-tech medical equipment and advanced diagnostic machines to be installed at the hospital.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good initiative to develop sports infrastructure, but let's also remember that healthcare is equally important. Glad to see ESI Hospital upgrade is part of the discussion. Our workers need quality medical facilities too. 👏
This is what we need - focusing on grassroots sports development. Kota has produced many talented athletes but they often struggle with lack of proper tracks and equipment. If these plans materialise before 2030 CWG, we could see many champions from the region. But implementation is the key - hope the officials don't slack off.
Nice to see our leaders working together regardless of party lines for development. Lok Sabha Speaker and Union Minister coordinating on sports infra is a good sign. The ESI hospital part is especially crucial - filled with vacant posts and outdated equipment for too long. Hope this meeting translates into action soon. 🙂
A step in the right direction for sure! However, building world-class facilities is one thing, but we also need qualified coaches and a proper sports science support system. Else these tracks will just be photo ops for politicians. Let's see how they implement this on the ground.
👏👏 Great to see attention on non-metro cities! From Kota's coaching industry to now sports hub - there's enormous potential. The focus on ESI hospital also shows inclusive development. Hope the government follows through with proper budget allocation and timely completion.
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