Tamil Nadu increases mini stadium funding to Rs 10-12 crore

The Tamil Nadu government has announced a significant increase in funding for its mini stadium scheme. Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna stated in the Assembly that the budget allocation for each mini stadium in every Assembly constituency will be raised from Rs 3 crore to between Rs 10 crore and Rs 12 crore.

The decision follows a period where the scheme was halted for restructuring and remodeling. Minister Arjuna noted that the previous allocation was insufficient, citing a running track in Karur that was completely damaged due to inadequate funding. While the budget is increasing, the locations of the planned stadiums will remain unchanged.

In addition to the constituency-level upgrades, the government plans to construct an international-standard stadium in every district. The state also intends to select one school in each district to develop into a model school featuring comprehensive sports infrastructure. Minister Arjuna advised MLAs to prioritize constituency development funds for school infrastructure, such as toilet facilities, rather than stadium construction.