West Bengal to develop 84 stadiums

In the future roadmap for Bengal sports spelled out by West Bengal sports minister Aroop Biswas, 84 stadiums will be set up all over Bengal, along with which eight existing big stadiums will also be renovated and beautified. The new stadiums will be built at all district sub-divisions. In fact, renovation work of the Salt Lake stadium is under execution for the upcoming FIFA Under-17 World Cup scheduled to be held next year. As reported, a FIFA team will be inspecting the work in October this year, until which no matches will be held at the venue. The city-based team for the Indian Super League (ISL) – Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) – had sought permission to stage their home matches at the Salt Lake stadium, however, Biswas has rejected the request, aiming for the bigger picture. Speaking on this, Biswas as reported, mentioned that since the World Cup U-17 event will put up Bengal on the global soccer map, there was no way a compromise could be made on its preparation. The minister in his recent address emphasised on the government’s keenness to make Bengal a sporting superpower and its plan to develop the state's sporting infrastructure. That said, tenders have been floated for putting up floodlights in the East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting grounds. This, on completion, will allow all the three big Kolkata soccer clubs – including Mohun Bagan – to have floodlights.