Arunachal Pradesh is set to get its biggest sporting facility yet: a 30,000-seat football stadium at Hollongi, sanctioned at an estimated cost of around ₹300 crore, with construction expected to begin within a month.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced the project while opening the second edition of the Indrajit Namchoom Arunachal League (INAL 2026) at Yupia. According to the Chief Minister, the tendering process for the stadium has already been completed, and around one lakh square metres of land have been identified near Hollongi in Balijan Circle of Papum Pare district.
The announcement marks a major investment in the state’s sporting infrastructure. Khandu said world-class facilities are essential if young athletes are to showcase and sharpen their abilities, describing the project as a cornerstone of the state’s sporting future.
INAL 2026 Returns With National Broadcast
The second edition of the state football league features 10 clubs representing different zones of Arunachal Pradesh, playing at the Golden Jubilee Outdoor Stadium in Yupia. This season, the competition is being streamed live on JioHotstar, giving the state’s footballers a national audience for the first time.
Khandu said the streaming deal opens new doors for local players, bringing their talent before a wider audience and creating greater opportunities. For a state whose footballers have long operated outside the national spotlight, the OTT broadcast is seen as a structural shift — a pathway to scouting, sponsorship and fan followings.
The opener set an exciting tone, with FC XIGA United stunning defending champions Capital Complex FC 1-0 through a goal in the final moments of the match.
Complementing the Golden Jubilee Stadium
The proposed Hollongi stadium is intended to complement the existing Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia, giving the state a larger venue capable of hosting major fixtures. Khandu, who also heads the Arunachal Pradesh Football Association, said the facility would strengthen the state’s capacity to develop players and host national-level matches.
Football enjoys deep roots in the Northeast, and structured leagues like INAL are part of a broader regional push to channel that passion into professional competition. Whether the new stadium and the broadcast exposure eventually feed state players into national recruitment pipelines will be the larger story to watch.
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