Assam’s largest football stadium to be built in Kokrajhar: CM

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, while attending the closing ceremony of Bodoland CEM Cup Football tournament at Kokrajhar SAI Stadium on Tuesday evening, said that the construction of Assam’s largest football stadium at a cost of Rs 125 crore will begin in Kokrajhar within 2025.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Kokrajhar had now transformed from a place once associated with guns and violence into one with an environment of joy, sports, and education. He stated that with the signing of the BTR Accord in 2020, three decades of violence and unrest in Bodoland came to an end, ushering in a new era of peace, harmony, and development.

Stating Kokrajhar as the new ‘sports capital,’ he mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also recently referred to the Bodoland CEM Cup Football Tournament in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme. He said that the construction of Assam’s largest football stadium will begin in Kokrajhar at a cost of Rs 125 crore within this year. He further added that football stadiums will also be constructed in Udalguri, Chirang, Tamulpur, and Baksa. The Chief Minister also highlighted Kokrajhar’s contribution to Indian football in his speech.

It may be mentioned that CM Sarma had also assured the construction of a large football stadium worth Rs 150 crores during his inaugural ceremony of 132nd Durand Cup at Kokrajhar SAI Stadium before a huge crowd of spectators in July in 2023. He had also assured that the construction works of the football stadium would be started within November in 2023. However, two years after his declaration, the construction is yet to begin. The CM had reiterated his assurances regarding the football stadium during his recent visit to Kokrajhar to attend a meeting of the BJP at Bodofa Nwgwr. It has been learnt that the tendering process had been initiated for the construction of the football stadium but a suitable bidder for the same could not be found. Thus, many have been left questioning whether the assurance will turn into reality this year.

In his keynote address, the CEM of BTC Pramod Boro said that with participation from 420 Village Council Development Committees (VCDCs), 3,760 teams, and over 67,000 players, the historic Bodoland CEM Cup Football tournament had truly embodied the unstoppable spirit of Bodoland, bringing together all communities of BTR, and spreading peace and unity through a shared love of football.

"My gratitude will remain to the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi for his visionary leadership and blessings and my sincere thanks also go to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma for their continued guidance and tireless efforts to foster peace and progress in BTR," Boro said, adding that Bodoland now was not just a region of hope and harmony but had emerged as the 'Sporting Hub of North East' India. The first edition of the Bodoland CEM Cup is the first step to many more such celebrations of BTR’s peace and unity, he added.

Handloom, Textiles and Sericulture Minister UG Brahma, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Nandita Gorlosa, CEM BTC Pramod Boro, BTC Deputy CEM Gobinda Basumatary, MPs Rwngwra Narzary and Joyanta Basumatary, BTC Speaker Katiram Boro, EM Daobaisa Boro, Consul General of Bhutan in Guwahati Jigme Thinlye Namgyal, several MLAs, players and other dignitaries were also present in the closing ceremony.

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