Mann, Kejriwal lay foundation stone of Rs 78-cr Burlton Park Sports Hub project in Jalandhar
Highlighting the Punjab government's plan to establish ultra-modern sports facilities statewide as a long-term solution to substance abuse and youth disillusionment, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday that 'stadiums in every village will be our answer to drugs'.
The former Delhi chief minister and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann laid the foundation stone of the Burlton Park Sports Hub project in Jalandhar, an ambitious project to be developed at a cost of nearly Rs 78 crore.
Terming it a 'historic' day, Kejriwal said India's first-of-its-kind multi-sports hub would provide thousands of people with opportunities to get into sports and maintain a healthy lifestyle, signaling a dramatic shift in the fight against drugs toward rebuilding lives through sports.
Under the ongoing 'Yudh Nasheyan De Virudh' (War Against Drugs) campaign, the Punjab government is doubling down on its strategy: a crackdown on drug networks and opening up sporting pathways for youth.
'Operation Bulldoze, community cooperation and police broke the drug network, now sports will build the future,' Kejriwal said at the event. 'The state had once led the nation in sports, enterprise and courage, but decades of political mismanagement had allowed drugs to invade every family and village.'
Kejriwal spoke about the establishment of new focal points across Punjab and the launch of the 'FastTrack Punjab Portal' to ensure investors receive all necessary approvals within 45 days of the application.
Echoing this commitment, Mann noted, 'Jalandhar has produced generations of national athletes, especially in hockey. But that legacy had been tarnished as political apathy and poor governance allowed the drug menace to flourish. We promised a sports hub in 2022, and we are delivering it today.'
Mann stated, 'Punjab's youth have unmatched energy and spirit — sports will be the channel through which we redirect that toward glory, not grief.'
The chief minister announced that Burlton Park would soon be renamed after a legendary Punjabi sportsperson, erasing its colonial past and rooting it firmly in Punjab's proud identity.
Plans were also unveiled for new international cricket stadiums in Jalandhar and Amritsar, following the model of Mullanpur, he said.
The Rs 78-crore sports hub is expected to come up within a year, offering state-of-the-art facilities and access to thousands of aspiring athletes. More importantly, it's being positioned as a new front in Punjab's war against drugs — a symbol of hope and renewal.
Mann and Kejriwal flagged off a shipment of 25,000 rugby balls to be used for matches in the prestigious 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup. They emphasised that it is a matter of great honour for Punjab that rugby balls manufactured by Savi International, a Jalandhar-based company, will be used in an international sporting event of such magnitude.
Both the leaders added that the sports industry is playing a vital role in fuelling thousands of jobs and positioning Punjab as a global manufacturing powerhouse.
Highlighting the global reputation of Jalandhar's sports industry, the leaders lauded the hardworking, resilient, and visionary manufacturers who have consistently delivered world-class products.
They reaffirmed the Punjab government's commitment to giving a strong impetus to this vibrant sector.
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