Development and construction
The locality of Sarusajai won the bid to host the 2007 national games on 13 December 2002, though the sports infrastructure of the town was not able to accommodate the event. [3] It marked the first time the games had ever been held in Assam and only the second time in the Northeast, after Manipur. [3] French Architectural firm STUP consultants, which previously designed infrastructure for the Montreal Olympics and venues in the 2004 Athens Olympics, presented its designs to the government of Assam in 2003. [4] President of the Indian Olympic Association, Suresh Kalmadi, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, and governor Ajai Singh laid the foundation stones for the athletics stadium, indoor hall, and aquatic stadium in December 2003. The project was spread over 369 bighas of land. [3]
The state government engaged STUP consultants to design the infrastructure for the city, while the stadium construction was completed by Larsen & Toubro. The development project for the turfing of the football ground was a collaborative effort between the soil conservation department and STUP consultants, and the landscaping and plantation project was delayed due to Larsen & Toubro being unable to clear some of the sites. [5] Larsen & Toubro began construction of the stadium on 2 March 2004, on the basis of designs prepared by STUP consultants. [6]
Despite concerns over parts of the complex being still constructed in the days before the games, [7] the complex was ready for the opening of the 2007 games. [8] In 2012, The Telegraph reported that the complex had cost ₹149 crore (US$18 million), and that there had been "negligible" use of the infrastructure since the 2007 games. [9]
In March 2020, [10] bodybuilder Mahadev Deka inaugurated the gym and fitness centre at the sports complex. [11] [12]
