Kohima, March 13: The Nagaland Legislative Assembly was informed that a total of ₹140 crore has been received so far for the construction of the Multi-Disciplinary Sports Complex in Dimapur, while the state government is exploring the possibility of handing over the project to the Sports Authority of India to ensure its completion.
The information was shared in the House after MLA Nuklutoshi raised a starred question seeking details on the funds received and the reasons for the delay in completing the project.
Responding to the query, Minister for Rural Development and SIRD Metsubo Jamir said that ₹43 crore had been received earlier from the Planning Commission between 2006–2007 and 2010–2011. However, no additional funding was received after the transition to NITI Aayog. He added that the Government of Nagaland later provided ₹97 crore over the years, bringing the total amount received for the project to ₹140 crore.
During the discussion, Nuklutoshi sought the views of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio regarding the progress of the project and the government’s plan to complete the sports complex.
Responding to the concerns, Rio said the project had faced delays due to limited financial resources and the phased release of funds. He informed the House that although ₹140 crore had been received so far, the total estimated cost required to complete the complex stands at around ₹267 crore, including GST and other related expenses.
The chief minister stated that the government is considering handing over the facility to the Sports Authority of India as a potential solution to complete the remaining construction and ensure proper utilisation of the infrastructure.
Rio further informed members that the process of transferring the project to SAI is currently underway. He said a second survey of the complex had already been conducted and the next step would involve signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the state government and the SAI regional directorate through the Department of Sports.
He also noted that the stadium has been designed with a seating capacity of around 30,000 spectators and would require at least three entry points to facilitate proper access and efficient crowd management.
According to Rio, once the facility is handed over, SAI would assist not only in completing the remaining construction but also in ensuring optimal use of the complex through the deployment of coaches and the establishment of national-level training centres across multiple sports disciplines.
