Srinagar, Jan 17(KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir government is exploring the development of a cricket stadium capable of hosting national and international sporting events, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo said on Saturday.

Dulloo said the government was examining the feasibility of the project within Jammu and Kashmir’s fiscal capacity and was also considering involving professional sports bodies and the business community for the development and long-term maintenance of the facility.

“The government is assessing whether such a project can be undertaken independently or whether collaboration with professional bodies such as the BCCI and other sports associations would be more effective,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a two-day National Sports Conference.

He said the objective was not limited to creating new infrastructure but also ensuring its upkeep to national and international standards.

Responding to a query, Dulloo said cricket was not the only sport that hosted major events and that several other disciplines regularly held national and international competitions.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel“At present, we do not have a cricket stadium of that standard, but discussions are underway,” he said.

The chief secretary said the government aimed to address gaps in sports infrastructure, strengthen the coaching ecosystem, and create more opportunities for athletes in the Union Territory.

He said the National Sports Conference had been organised to seek inputs from eminent sportspersons on existing shortcomings and to carry out a detailed assessment of the sports sector.

“Based on this assessment, the government intends to formulate a comprehensive sports roadmap and implement it in a phased and systematic manner,” Dulloo said.(KNS)