SRINAGAR: As many as 173 sports infrastructure projects with an estimated cost of ₹527.85 crore could not be completed across Jammu and Kashmir during the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26 because of a shortage of funds, an official reply obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed.
The information was provided by the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports (YSS), J&K in response to an RTI application filed by M.M. Shuja. In its reply, the Public Information Officer said the application was received through the Administrative Department via e-office and point-wise information was collected from the Establishment, Planning and Activity Sections of the Directorate before being furnished to the applicant.
According to the RTI, the pending projects have a total estimated cost of ₹527.85 crore, while ₹231.86 crore has been spent so far. During 2025-26, the department proposed the release of ₹114.45 crore, out of which ₹114.13 crore was released. The records further show cumulative expenditure of ₹209.76 crore, but a large number of projects continue to remain incomplete due to inadequate funding.
The annexure attached to the RTI lists 173 projects spread across almost every district of Jammu and Kashmir, including Jammu, Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla, Bandipora, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag, Kulgam, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri and Poonch.
The projects include the construction of synthetic athletic tracks, football grounds, synthetic hockey turfs, volleyball courts, basketball courts, badminton halls, cricket practice pitches, multipurpose indoor sports halls, YSS office buildings, YSS hostels, coaching centres, open-air gyms, changing rooms, pavilions, stadium infrastructure and other sports facilities.
The RTI records show that many of the projects were sanctioned under different funding components and executing agencies, including JKSC, PMDP, RIDF, NABARD, Capex Budget, UT Capex and Khelo India. Several projects date back to 2019, while others were sanctioned during 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26. The status of works varies from projects that have been completed to those where only a small percentage of work has been executed, while many others have crossed 80 to 90 per cent completion but remain unfinished due to lack of funds.
In a separate query, the RTI applicant sought details of vacancies filled in the department during the past five years under the Lieutenant Governor’s administration through SSRB, JKPSC, Police and other allied government departments. Responding to the query, the Directorate said that 19 Physical Education Lecturers (PELs), 35 Junior Assistants and six Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) have been appointed in the department during the period, taking the total number of appointments to 60.
