After the foundation stone laying ceremony of the much-awaited Burlton Park Sports Hub, Jalandhar Central Halka Incharge Nitin Kohli expressed heartfelt gratitude and shared an emotional reflection on his long-standing association with the historic ground. Nitin Kohli also revealed the timeline and a personal vision for the project’s inauguration. Kohli said, “We aim to complete this Sports Hub within one year. I promise that once it is ready, we will inaugurate it with a grand 5 or 6-nation hockey tournament, something close to my heart, as I have been associated with hockey for the past 40 years. While we’ll promote all sports, this inauguration will be a major sporting spectacle.”
He added, “I assure CM Bhagwant Mann and Supremo Arvind Kejriwal that just like the foundation stone laying ceremony was grand, the inauguration will be celebrated with equal enthusiasm and pride.”
Nitin Kohli recalls his 20-year-old bond with Burlton Park
In his address to the people of Jalandhar, Nitin Kohli said, “Many congratulations to all residents of Jalandhar. As long as Jalandhar exists, this day will be remembered. I personally feel immense peace and pride as we have inaugurated the Burlton Park Sports Hub today — a ground where I played cricket for 20 years.”
Recalling his journey with the venue, he added, “From being the Joint Secretary to the President of Hockey Punjab, I have a deep emotional connection with this place. I successfully organised 10 Ramesh Chander Hockey tournaments here, which were graced by the Prime Minister four times, the Home Minister twice, and even the President once.”
Nitin Kohli's special thanks to MP Ashok Mittal and others
Kohli detailed the upcoming infrastructure: a new hockey stadium, running track, cycling track, multi-purpose gym, and stadium, all aimed at benefitting future generations. He lauded the Aam Aadmi Party government for this “historic gift” to the city.
Kohli emphasized that such a significant project could not have taken shape without the dedication and contribution of several key individuals. “I am sincerely grateful to those who played a crucial role in making this happen. First and foremost, MP Ashok Mittal deserves special mention. Despite his packed schedule, he took the time to accompany me to Chandigarh and later to Delhi to push forward the project.”
He further acknowledged the unwavering support of Dr. Ravjot, saying, “Every time I called him, his response was always the same — ‘It will be done, brother, don’t worry.’ His reassurance kept the momentum going.”
Kohli also recognized the role of Corporation Commissioner Gautam Jain. “I held four to five detailed meetings with Commissioner Jain. His cooperation and commitment were instrumental in clearing the administrative pathways.”
Appreciating Jalandhar Mayor Vaneet Dhir, Kohli remarked, “He is an incredibly progressive leader. After I joined the Aam Aadmi Party, I spent around ten days closely working with him. It’s hard to believe how someone can be so consistently positive and solution-oriented. I feel blessed to have found such support, and I am glad we’ve been able to do something concrete for Jalandhar.”
He further thanked the entire leadership of AAP, including Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, AAP Punjab Incharge Manish Sisodia, and AAP Punjab President Aman Arora. “I am especially thankful to Aman Arora ji for bringing me into the Aam Aadmi Party. Their vision and backing have been essential in taking this dream towards reality.”
Work on Burlton Park started even before Nitin Kohli joined AAP
Nitin Kohli also acknowledged that the groundwork for Burlton Park’s redevelopment began before he joined AAP. "We were working on this project even before I joined AAP," said Nitin Kohli, but he credited the party and its leaders, including CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Aman Arora.
He extended his gratitude to AAP councillors, block pradhans, MLAs, and Halka Incharges who helped make the foundation stone laying event a success. “The way this project has started is just the beginning. We will work relentlessly to beautify Jalandhar. Let’s rise above politics and unite for the city,” said Nitin Kohli.
Kohli further said, "I also want to express my special gratitude to DC Jalandhar, Mr Himanshu Aggarwal, and CP Jalandhar, Mrs Dhanpreet Kaur, for working tirelessly to ensure that proper arrangements are made for the Inaugural of Burlton Park."
Inviting public participation, he concluded, “Our Central Office is now open near Ohri Hospital. Anyone who wants to contribute is welcome — our door is always open.”