Guwahati: The six-decade old stadiums in Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Diphu, Tezpur, Mangaldoi, Karimganj and Tinsukia will soon see new lights.

The Assam government on Monday announced budget allocations of Rs 5 crore each for floodlights in the seven stadia.

"Keeping in line with the chief minister's vision to promote Assam as the sports state of India, we propose to give a grant of Rs 5 crore each to install floodlights in stadiums at Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Karimganj, Diphu, Mangaldoi, Tezpur and Tinsukia, thereby strengthening rural sports infrastructure," finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced in the state Assembly.

Though funds have been allocated for floodlights at Polo Ground in Tezpur, the stadium, established in 1961, does not have a spectators' gallery.

Jorhat Stadium, established in 1953, has the highest seating capacity of 15,000, while the Karbi Anglong Sports Association Stadium in Diphu, established in 1954, has a seating capacity of 8,000, the Mangaldoi Stadium, established in 1995, has 10,000 seats, Jalan Stadium, established in Dibrugarh in 1951, has 3,000 seats and the Government Higher Secondary School Stadium at Karimganj, established in 1974, has a capacity of 6,000. The Sarbananda Singha Stadium in Tinsukia, established in 1993, has a seating capacity of 10,000.

Sarma said the government was committed to realise the vision of chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal to make Guwahati the sports capital of the country and Assam a sports hub. "With these goals in mind, our government has adopted an integrated sports policy for overall development of sports in the state and to bring about a systemic transformation in the entire sports ecosystem," he said.

The budget, however, did not see any substantial hike in financial allocation for sports with a total amount of Rs 163 crore being proposed for the department.

The government also announced introduction of a gaon panchayat-level football tournament to promote the spirit of competition and participation.

"Each panchayat will be given Rs 25,000 to organise the tournament. Anchalik panchayat level and zila parishad-level tournaments will also be organised. This will also ensure spotting young talent in time and nurturing the same. Each anchalik panchayat will be given Rs 2 lakh and zila parishad will be given Rs 3 lakh for the tournaments. I have made a budget provision of Rs 10 crore for this initiative," said the minister.

Moreover, the government has proposed to take up border outreach programmes to promote amity and friendship among the people in border areas.