SAI to take over unfinished sports coliseum in Dimapur

Ready to ink MoU with Nagaland govt

Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 23

The Nagaland state government is all set to formalise handing over of the long incomplete Multi-Disciplinary Sports Complex (MDSC) to the Sports Authority of India (SAI). SAI Deputy Director General, Manjushree Dayanand landed in Nagaland to finalise the deal, scheduled to be inked in Kohima on July 24. 

The plan to hand over the MDSC was announced by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio at the 2026 Budget session in March. Almost 20 years in the making, the sports complex, covering an area of over 64 acres, has become a meme for governmental neglect. One of Rio’s first major projects after taking the Chief Ministerial rein in 2003, the incomplete but ambitious project has devoured an estimated Rs 140 cr. 

The SAI DGM told the media, after landing at the Dimapur airport on July 23, that she was in Nagaland to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concluding the handing over-cum-taking over process. 

Dayanand said that the deal was under consideration for sometime subsequent to a proposal from the Nagaland Chief Minister’s Office. “The offer actually came from the Chief Minister's office, wherein he offered 64 acres of land… with infrastructure in place for three sports (football, sepak takraw and boxing) disciplines. Sports Authority of India is partnering with them (Nagaland government), and we are very happy doing it,” she said.

Going by Dayanand’s comment, the SAI was more than happy to grab the offer. According to her, the present SAI Training Centre located in United colony (formerly Half-Nagarjan), near the Government Higher Secondary school, was already in a dilapidated state. “We were not happy having our athletes staying in an environment which is not conducive, and not very healthy for sports persons because they are the national asset at the end of the day,” she said. 

The relocation is planned in two phases. In the first phase, resident trainees — football, sepak takraw, and boxing — will be relocated to the new campus. The second phase will focus on upgrading the campus into a National Centre of Excellence with residential hostels, while incorporating more disciplines. 

The proposed Centre of Excellence will also include the recruitment of coaches and sports science personnel across nine fields of sports science and sports medicine. “I don't see any reason why we can't see Olympians coming up from this state,” she added.

There was no definitive explanation with regard to the MoU’s technicalities. Dayanand said it is a joint venture with both parties planning to conduct a “need analysis” to ensure all developed infrastructure is fully utilised and maintained. “It is a joint venture… The roles and responsibilities are yet to be defined. Once they are defined, I'm sure nothing would be created which will not be used,” she said.