Bhajji sanctions Rs13.48 lakh grant for badminton stadium

AAP Rajya Sabha MP and former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh has sanctioned a grant of Rs 13.48 lakh from his Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) for the Raizada Hansraj Badminton Stadium in Jalandhar.

As per the proposal submitted by the District Badminton Association (DBA), the amount would be used for setting up a solar power project. A detailed cost estimate has been prepared by the Public Works Department. Extending his support towards the project of the stadium, MP Harbhajan Singh approved it promptly, said the association members.

This is not the first instance of financial assistance extended by the MP to the association. In 2023, he had sanctioned a grant of Rs 16.50 lakh for the installation of modern gymnasium equipment at the same venue.

Honorary Secretary of the Punjab Badminton Association, Ritin Khanna, said that his interactions with Harbhajan Singh have always been encouraging. "I last met him in 2023, when he had supported the upgradation of the stadium gymnasium. Even then, he assured us of his support and asked us to approach him whenever assistance was required," Khanna said. He added that Harbhajan Singh has a special attachment to Raizada Hansraj Stadium, where he played badminton and trained during his early years. The MP has also assured the association that he would visit the stadium during his next visit to the city.

Khanna expressed gratitude to Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal and Amarjit Singh for playing an important role in facilitating the sanction of the grant. "With the installation of the solar power plant, the electricity expenditure of the stadium will reduce substantially.

The savings will be re-invested in player development and training, thereby further improving facilities and opportunities for aspiring shuttlers," Khanna said.

Located in Civil Lines, Jalandhar, the Raizada Hansraj Badminton Stadium is managed by the District Badminton Association, a registered body headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Jalandhar.

Established in 1963 and named after the late Raizada Hansraj Sondhi, the stadium is among the oldest and most prestigious badminton facilities in north India. Since 2019, the Interim Committee of DBA Jalandhar has worked towards the upliftment of the facilities at the stadium.

With an investment exceeding Rs1 crore, the stadium has undergone a complete transformation and has emerged as a hub for high-level badminton events.