Barasat stadium to be modernised: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today directed the sports department to develop the Barasat Stadium and upgrade it into a sports complex-cum-stadium.
The sports department would bear the cost of development of the stadium, the chief minister said.
"The Barasat Stadium is close by Kolkata and it must be developed. It must be done in a great way. Develop it into a sports complex-cum-stadium," Banerjee said during an administrative review meeting held here at the Rabindra Bhavan today.
The chief minister intervened after actor-cum-politician Chiranjeet Chakraborty, a local MLA, drew her attention to the bad shape of the stadium at present.

Chakraborty alleged that the Indian Football Association (IFA) was only taking care of the pitch where, apart from the I-League matches, several other tournaments such as the Indian Super League are also played.
"The IFA was only taking care of the ground. But the other portions of the stadium are almost in shambles. I request you (the chief minister) to kindly look into the matter and help in developing it into a sports complex cum stadium," Chakraborty said.
Banerjee asked the Principal Secretary of Youth Services & Sports Department Sayeed Ahmed Baba to chalk out a plan for the stadium's development.

The stadium, also known as Vidyasagar Krirangan, has a capacity to accommodate around 22,000 spectators and has an artificial turf.