Thaindian News

Kolkata, Aug 9 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday unveiled a stadium named after the Nobel winning collection of poems Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore. She also said the city will get another stadium on the lines of Netaji Indoor Stadium.

“The stadium could only be named Gitanjali. What better way to pay homage to Tagore on his 150th birth anniversary than by naming this stadium after Gitanjali which got him the Nobel (prize). The centennial anniversary of it is also approaching,” said Banerjee after unveiling the stadium built on 4.5 acre at Kasba in the South Eastern fringe of the city.

Gitanjali, a collection of poems by the bard, was first published in England in 1912. A year later Tagore created history by becoming the first Asian to win the Nobel prize in literature.

Banerjee said the stadium will not only promote sports in the area but will also enhance its beauty. “Along with cricket and football several indoor games can be played here. I have also heard domestic games would also be organised here. The Kolkata Municipal Development Authority is in talks with people concern for setting up sports academies here as well.”

She also said an indoor stadium similar to Netaji Indoor will come up in the city soon. “A stadium having the same 14,000 capacity of Netaji Indoor will come up soon. The government is looking for a suitable plot. All these stadiums will help in the promotion of sports in the state.”

She blamed the erstwhile left front government of regressing the development of the state. “In the last 34 years the state has not seen any development. But now we will steadily build our state. Similar stadiums will also come in the districts.”