The foundation stone of the first-ever national centre of excellence that will be jointly run by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Indian railways was laid in Cooch Behar on Saturday.

The project has been taken up by the Union ministry of youth affairs and sports and will come up on a 25-acre land that has been provided by the railways near the New Cooch Behar station.

“The infrastructure will help us identify and nurture budding sports talent in north Bengal and the Northeast. They will be provided residential coaching,” said Nisith Pramanik, the Union minister of state for home, youth affairs and sports.