The newly formed Siliguri Mahakuma Krira Parishad (SMKP) has decided to prioritise upgradation of Kanchenjunga Stadium, a football arena that was considered one of the finest in Bengal after Calcutta’s Yuva Bharati Kriragan.

The stadium, built in 1988, has in the past hosted several national and international football tournaments.

A source said: “However, in the past there have been instances where we lost opportunities to host matches for prestigious Durand Cup and other premier tournaments because of poor infrastructure.”

All sporting activities stopped in the stadium since March because of Covid-19 induced lockdown. This has further put pressure on the maintenance of the stadium which has a seating capacity of 27,000.

Sources said urgent repair work right from the spectator’s gallery to players changing rooms to drainage system was required. “Unless immediate repair work is undertaken the infrastructure will crumble further,” said the source.

On Thursday, a new committee of the SKMP, the apex sport’s body of Siliguri, was formed.

“We have one of the best sporting infrastructures of the state at Kanchenjunga stadium. However, it is now lying in a dilapidated state and we will work hard in the coming days to change its face,” said Kuntal Goswami, the newly elected general secretary of the SKMP who replaced Arupratan Ghosh.

There have been major changes in the sport’s body structure following the election. “We will go to the grass root to hunt more talents so that we can fully utilise the infrastructure available here,” said Goswami.

The newly elected committee has decided to approach the state government to seek help for upgrading the stadium.