Chief Minister Abdullah Unveils ₹30.35 Crore Sports Infrastructure in Srinagar

Srinagar, October 7 (Daily Kiran) : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated a ₹30.35 crore sports infrastructure package on October 7 at the Sher-e-Kashmir Multi Sports Activity Center (SKMSAC) in Gindun Rajbagh, Srinagar. This new development significantly expands swimming and gymnastics facilities in the union territory.

The upgraded amenities include a 50-meter by 25-meter Olympic-sized swimming pool with ten lanes, a heated training pool suitable for year-round use, and a modern indoor gymnastics hall equipped with state-of-the-art apparatus.

During the inauguration, Abdullah emphasized that these facilities will provide young athletes with opportunities to engage in various sports beyond traditional games, enabling year-round training. He stated, “With this facility, we aim to create a new environment for students to embrace sports. For the first time in Kashmir, we have built an Olympic-sized swimming pool, which will be heated using solar energy, allowing children to practice and train throughout the year.”

The main swimming pool, costing ₹19.96 crore, features ten competition lanes, diving platforms at 1, 3, and 5 meters, and advanced filtration, circulation, and disinfection systems. It also includes changing rooms, washrooms, storage lockers, and seating for 300 spectators.

This facility aims to promote competitive swimming, diving, and other water sports. The training and toddler swimming pool, worth ₹5.35 crore, is designed for year-round use, featuring a heating system, an indoor lap pool, a toddler-friendly pool, anti-skid decking, and modern filtration and disinfection systems.

The initiative is set to cater to the needs of athletes, students, and the general public, ensuring training opportunities even during winter months. The gymnastics hall, built at a cost of ₹5.04 crore, spans 36 meters by 21 meters with a height of 10 meters, fully equipped with modern gymnastics apparatus.

This new infrastructure is expected to provide a dedicated space for gymnastics training and coaching in Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council plans to conduct coaching camps here and is working towards establishing a dedicated gymnastics academy.

Addressing the new gymnastics facility, Abdullah noted that while children in Kashmir show great interest in the sport, they previously lacked opportunities due to inadequate infrastructure.

The goal of this new development is to increase grassroots participation, improve access to professional coaching, and create better pathways for young athletes to excel in national and international competitions. The all-weather aquatic facilities will ensure continuous training even during the winter months.