Big talk on building stadiums in Punjab, bigger test ahead
The Tribune Editorial: If not matched by measurable outcomes, the 3,100 stadiums risk becoming what many past schemes did: political trophies, not public assets.
PUNJAB’s Rs 1,194-crore plan to build 3,100 village stadiums may sound like a golden goal — but the question is, who will keep the game going? Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal have packaged it as a war on drugs and a revival of Punjab’s sporting spirit. The intent is noble; but it is the execution that will decide if it turns into a legacy or a liability. The project’s vision is sweeping: modern multi-sports grounds spread across villages, offering space for football, hockey, athletics and traditional games — even recreation for the elderly. For a state racked by addiction and disillusionment among its youth, sports offer discipline, purpose and pride. If the stadiums truly become community hubs, they could help channel Punjab’s restless energy into something productive and unifying.
