Soon, Howrah to get Khel City
Kolkata: In a bid to improve infrastructure for sports activities, Khel City will be developed at Dumurjola in Howrah.
While addressing the administrative review meeting in Howrah on Thursday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated the need of setting up another cricket stadium as there is only one in the state and there is demand for one more. The cricket stadium
will also come up in the Khel City.
Firhad Hakim, the state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister, was also present in the meeting. He said: "Survey has been conducted and a plan has also been chalked out to set up the Khel City. Spot visit has also been carried out with the Mayor."
He further said: "All aspects of sports activities will be brought under one umbrella in the Khel City. There are some old buildings. Residents of the buildings will be rehabilitated to another place and HIT will be carrying out the task."
"With setting up of the city, there will be infrastructure for cricket, football and other sports including swimming. Moreover, there will be a separate arena for players and sportsmen," he said, adding that with development of the infrastructure, people from outside will also start flowing in. So, there will also be a hotel for their accommodation.
He further said that an indoor stadium is also coming up here and it is almost complete.
The Chief Minister said in this connection that former captain of the Indian cricket team Sourav Ganguly, who is at present the president of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), came to meet her and gave proposal of carrying out sports activities.
"The CAB wants another stadium and it would come up at Dumurjola. We must allow the same as there is only one cricket stadium in the state," said the Chief Minister.
It may be mentioned that the Mamata Banerjee government had given a 15 acre land at New Town to All India Football Federation (AIFF), to set up the National Centre for Excellence in Football. This came after the FIFA Under-17 Football World Cup.
Hakim said that he will be holding discussion with Sourav Ganguly, to chalk out a plan to develop the cricket stadium.
