Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium

Sept. 14: Dispur has asked the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) to draw up a concept plan to construct a mega stadium at Amingaon, with the capacity to seat more than 70,000 spectators.

“The proposed stadium will be the largest in the city as it will be much bigger in size compared to Nehru Stadium and the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium at Sarusajai,” a Guwahati development department (GDD) official said.

Built in 1962, Nehru Stadium can accommodate around 25,000 people, while the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium at Sarusajai — constructed for the National Games 2007 — can hold around 30,000.

“The state government has asked the GMDA to prepare the concept plan, draw the design by engaging a reputed architectural firm, work out the funds requirement and take up preliminary work like filling up land and construction of boundary walls,” the source said.

“The government wants to create a big stadium like the Eden Gardens in Calcutta with a capacity to accommodate 70,000 to one lakh spectators, keeping the future requirement of the city in mind,” he added.

The proposed stadium will be used for various sport, including cricket and football.

The government plans to use the facility to hold public rallies and other big events as well.

The stadium will be constructed on a plot of land measuring 120 bighas alongside the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium. It will also have a swimming academy, cafeteria, youth hostel and an open amphitheatre for holding traditional sport.

“After the stadium is constructed, the entire complex will be christened Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Sports Complex,” the source said.

Though the exact cost of the project is being worked out, the GDD officer said according to a rough estimate, the project will cost more than Rs 70 crore.

The decision to construct the sports complex was taken in the early nineties by the then Hiteswar Saikia-led Congress government.

Sonia Gandhi, who was then chairperson of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, had laid the foundation for the complex on May 7, 1995.

The work stopped soon after the AGP government came to power in the state.

“Now the Tarun Gogoi government wants to revive the project. And considering the future growth of the city, Amingaon is the perfect location because the city is expected to expand towards the north bank in the future,” the officer said.