Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday inaugurated the state-of-the-art Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Naranpura, Ahmedabad. Built at a cost of ₹825 crore, it is India’s largest sports complex and among the world’s most modern.
Speaking at the event, Shah said the complex, named after freedom fighter Veer Savarkar, was developed as per Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of creating world-class sports infrastructure in the country. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, and state minister Harsh Sanghavi were present at the inauguration.
Shah said India should no longer imagine itself as second to any country, noting that PM Modi has set a target of making India number one in every field by 2047. “Sports is the soul of the nation, and as the world’s youngest country, India must not lag behind in this area,” he said.
The Home Minister highlighted that the last 10 years had witnessed an unprecedented transformation in Indian sports. The central sports budget, which stood at ₹1,643 crore in 2014–15, has risen to ₹5,300 crore, he noted. He also credited initiatives like Khelo India, Fit India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) for fostering a stronger sporting culture and medal tally in recent years.
Spread over 1.19 lakh square metres, the eco-friendly complex has seven entry gates, parking for 900 vehicles, a 275-kilowatt solar power plant, a 60 KLD sewage treatment plant, world-class sports facilities, hostels, medical support, and a theatre for performance analysis.
Shah recalled Savarkar’s daring escape attempt from a British ship at Marseille, calling him an inspiration for generations. He expressed confidence that athletes training at the facility will bring laurels to the country.
Ahmedabad, which already houses the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium and the upcoming Sardar Patel Sports Complex, is emerging as a major sports hub, Shah said. He added that the city will host the World Police and Fire Games in 2029, and the government is preparing to host the 2036 Olympics in Ahmedabad.
By 2036, as many as 13 international tournaments will be held in Ahmedabad, he said, projecting it as the future sports hub of Asia.