Sports hostel in Jalandhar lies in shambles

The sports hostel situated at Surjit Hockey Stadium in Burlton Park paints a picture of neglect. The moment one enters the premises, they feel like leaving immediately.

The situation is so bad that staying for more than five minutes feels like a challenge. Currently, about eight players who were selected during the sports trials conducted for the Punjab State Institute of Sports (PIS) are residing in the hostel, which resembles a deserted building.

When The Tribune team visited the hostel, garbage was found scattered across the floors and the rooms and washrooms were in extremely poor condition. Cement was peeling off the walls, windows were broken and pigeons were seen flying freely inside the rooms and verandah. The players have covered the broken windows with newspapers and bedsheets. Only two or three rooms are currently in use, as the rest are in a dilapidated state and difficult to enter due to broken infrastructure.

The district sports department has proposed to renovate the hostel. An estimate of around Rs 3.5 crore has been sent to the head office for the renovation of the entire stadium, including the hostel.

A javelin thrower staying at the facility said that it was not easy to live in such conditions. A mere glance at the building from the outside clearly indicates that it is unsafe as well.

Notably, the hostel was originally meant for hockey players, who were later shifted to a new facility located a few meters away from the stadium. “Now that the number of athletes is also rising, there is a need for both hostels,” a sports official said.

Director of the Sports Department, Harpreet Sudan, when contacted, said he was aware of the situation. “I acknowledge the fact that the condition is not good, but we are actively addressing it, and the work has already started. Hopefully, by the end of this financial year, the renovation work will be completed,” he told The Tribune.

Earlier, The Tribune had also highlighted the poor condition of the hostel at Government Senior Secondary State School of Sports—Punjab’s oldest and most prestigious sports institute, home to players from across the state. This is despite the fact that the school was envisioned as a nursery for future sports stars. The foundation stone was laid in 1961 by Punjab’s first Chief Minister, Partap Singh Kairon. The PWD was later entrusted with the task of its renovation.