City may have country's first self-sustaining sports complex

Kolkata could soon become the first city in the country to get a Rs 500-crore sports complex in a self-sustaining model, if such a proposal gets nod of the West Bengal government.
"We have submitted a proposal with the state government for a self-sustaining sports complex in Kolkata having a football academy, stadium, hostel and a 120-keys three star hotel and awaiting for the approval," RP Sanjiv Goenka group chairman Sanjiv Goenka said.
"It will be first of its kind in the country. There are several such self-sustaining models in the world," he said.
Goenka did not divulge any further details of the project except that the land had been identified.

The project will be owned by the Goenka family on a personal capacity but will be partly funded by group's CSR fund.
"As of now, there is no proposal for our listed companies part funding the project but they can. It will be funded by group corporate social responsibility fund and family resources," Goenka said.

Goenka said first phase of the project was expected to come up (the academy) in the next 12 months once the approvals are in place.
The land requirement was expected to be between 30 and 40 acres. Goenkas had visited a plot in Rajarhat, sources said but it could not be confirmed whether it was finalised.

Meanwhile, speaking about his sports ventures, he said he still remains enthusiastic about them and he can foresee better days from both IPL and football.
Goenka, who has put in his money in IPL franchise Rising Pune Supergiants and ISL team Atletico de Kolkata, said, "Football will be profitable in the next two years and next IPL performance will be much better," Goenka said.
Goenka also said he remained open to venture into new sports but yet to zeroed in.