The new skating track at Bidhan Sishu Udyan Skating Academy is 150m long, which is slightly less than the international stipulation of 200m. But it is still the longest in the state.
“All other international requirements have been met in regard to width, safety area, banking (raised slopes at the outward edges of the turns to prevent skaters from crashing out) etc.” said Gautam Talukdar, Udyan secretary.
The track has been laid with concrete and is being left to weather for six months. “Once we check for possible cracks, we will put the synthetic layer on top. A fencing is also being erected around the track to provide further protection as it is a high-speed sport. But since it is a costly proposition we will complete it gradually,” said Talukdar.
The track has come up at an expense of Rs 35 lakh, of which the Udyan authorities provided around Rs 13 lakh. The rest is being raised as loan and as sponsorship from the guardians.
There are two tracks in the state that are 125m long, one is in the Sports Authority of India complex in Salt Lake and the other is in Krishnanagar. “The SAI track is a flat one with mosaic flooring. We hold the state-level senior and junior meets there. The Clock Tower arena in New Town has sufficient space for a 125m track. Though the Kota stone floor reflects sunshine and heats up too much when it is hot we still utilise it for the state sub-junior meet as the ambience is safe. The Krishnanagar track lacks the synthetic layer,” said Pradip Ganeriwal, an advisor to the Roller Skating Association of West Bengal, who had headed the Roller Skating Federation of India (RSFI) for 16 years till 2008.
Ganeriwal had inspected the BSU track when it was under construction. “I had asked them to rectify some faults in the banking which hopefully they have done.” Drainage lines also have been carefully planned to prevent rainwater from accumulating on the embanked track.
BSU earlier had a 90m flat track of mastic asphalt. “It was a road track which is now used by morning walkers and cyclists. As for the new track, once the fencing is in place, it cannot be used for anything other than skating,” said Talukdar.
“This track saves me the trouble of going to New Town to practise on the road. Unlike the earlier one, this is a proper skating track and much longer too,” said Ridhi Bahety, a silver medallist at the 2019 RSFI National Championship, who is now training for a national meet in Raipur in June.