Indian Railways take the lead, ready to set up five sports academies across

Indian Railways will set up five sports academies at Delhi, Secunderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai as its contribution to the encouragement of sports in the country, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee recently declared.

While presenting the rail budget Mamata Banerjee had stated,'We are proud of our sports persons for excellent performances. Indian Railways, a great patron of sports, is the first recipient of the newly instituted prestigious Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar, awarded for the encouragement of sports.'

'To strengthen the present sports infrastructure, I also propose to set up five academies at Delhi, Secunderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai. It is also proposed to provide astro-turfs for the development of hockey at more places,’ she promised.

An Indian railways also plans to provide increased employment opportunities to sportspersons.

Adding more feathers to its cap, Indian Railways will be the lead partner of the Commonwealth Games to be held here from Oct 3-14.

'Indian railways will mark the event by running a Commonwealth exhibition train across the length and breadth of the country.