Guwahati, Nov 14: The Assam Cabinet has given administrative approval for the Rs 765-crore redevelopment of the RG Baruah Sports Complex, widely known as Nehru Stadium, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Thursday.
Sarma said the mega project is aimed at meeting the evolving demand for modern sports infrastructure and boosting the development of young sporting talents in the state. The upgraded facility will feature a world-class football stadium with a seating capacity of 25,000, along with training and competition arenas for football, swimming, badminton, table tennis, and other indoor and outdoor sports.
The Cabinet also decided to organise blood donation camps at 53 locations across Assam on November 18 to celebrate the birthday of popular singer Zubeen Garg. The Health and Family Welfare Department will extend technical assistance for the initiative.
In another major decision, the state government approved the ‘Asom Mala 3.0’ project at an estimated cost of Rs 3,217 crore to enhance connectivity through a high-speed transport corridor.
The Cabinet further approved the designation of Ledo Namdang in Tinsukia district as a Protected Reserve Forest, covering 9.4 hectares. It also cleared a new policy for riverbank protection and embankment development, which allows projects to proceed on the basis of voluntary land relinquishment by local residents, eliminating the need for formal land acquisition.
The meeting also finalized Assam’s holiday calendar for 2026, featuring 35 gazetted holidays, 39 restricted holidays, one half-day holiday, and 19 holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act. Additionally, under the ‘Matri-Pitri Vandana’ scheme, government employees will be entitled to special leave from either July 9-12 or July 23-26, 2026, to spend time with their parents.
The Cabinet further decided to make public both printed and digital versions of the Commission of Enquiry on Assam Disturbances 1983 (Tribhuvan Prasad Tewary Commission) report during the upcoming session of the Assam Legislative Assembly.
