Guwahati's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is all set to be converted to 25,000-seater football arena
The stadium has organised the Borodoloi Trophy earlier.
There is a lot of buzz surrounding the beautiful game with the 2026 FIFA World Cup scheduled to kick off in a few days. While the world is busy celebrating football’s biggest event, football fans in India finally have something to be excited about regarding Indian Football. Guwahati’s Nehru Stadium is all set to undergo a major revamp and will be converted to a 25,000-seater football arena to cater for the modern-day needs of the game.
The renovation of the ageing Nehru Stadium is valued at Rs 765 crore, making it one of the most elusive and valuable infrastructural projects in the history of Assam. Popularly known as the RC Baruah Sporting Complex, the stadium will now be converted as per the latest FIFA guidelines. It will also improve the infrastructure for various indoor sports like swimming, badminton, squash, table tennis and many more.
Historical significance of the Stadium
The Nehru Stadium is more than just a piece of infrastructure for Assam and its people. It holds a lot of memories for athletes from all across the state because it gave them a platform to announce themselves to the world. The stadium is an iconic landmark in Assam’s sporting history and has produced many magical moments back in the day.
The ground has played host to 13 One Day Internationals and has witnessed the greatness of the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Vivian Richards, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and even Brian Lara. Apart from international cricket, the stadium also hosted multiple Ranji Trophy, Deodhar Trophy and Duleep Trophy matches.
It also organised the famous Borodoloi Trophy and played host to multiple international clubs from Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Iran, Thailand and many more countries. The Santosh Trophy and the Federation Cup also took place at the venue during the 90s. All in all, the Nehru Stadium holds a lot of importance in shaping India’s sporting culture in the Northeast.
Details about the renovation project
The decision to renovate the Nehru Stadium was made during a cabinet meeting led by Assam’s Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarmah in November 2025. The project will aim at dismantling the old structures and creating a first of its kind football centric stadium in Guwahati. The Government of Assam has awarded the contract to undertake the redevelopment work to India’s leading engineering conglomerate, Larsen & Toubro.
One of the major changes will be the removal of the athletic tracks to bring the spectators closer to the action. A sports hostel is also expected to come up in the complex along with modern broadcast facilities and a new press box. A new parking space is also expected to be constructed that can hold 1500 vehicles at once. The exact timelines of the project have not been disclosed, but it is certainly going to do the world of good to Assam’s sporting fraternity.
Why is Guwahati’s Nehru Stadium being renovated?
The stadium is being redeveloped to meet modern football infrastructure standards and FIFA guidelines. The project aims to transform it into a dedicated football venue while also upgrading facilities for several indoor sports.
What will be the seating capacity of the new stadium?
After redevelopment, the stadium will have a seating capacity of approximately 25,000 spectators.
How much is the renovation project worth?
The redevelopment project is valued at ₹765 crore, making it one of Assam’s largest sports infrastructure investments.
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Yash has been involved in the Indian Football circuit since his school days. He has been covering various sports since 2020 and has also covered a couple of on-ground events, including the 2022 FIFA U17 Women's World Cup in Odisha.