CHITWAN: The construction of the Gautam Buddha International Cricket Stadium in Rampur, Bharatpur Metropolitan City-15, is progressing at a swift pace, with approximately 15 percent of the work already completed.
The stadium, a collaborative project between the metropolis and the federal and provincial governments, is set to be one of the key sporting landmarks in the region.
According to Santosh Acharya, Senior Divisional Engineer of Bharatpur Metropolitan City, 150 workers are currently engaged in the construction daily. This number is expected to increase to 210 in the coming days as the work intensifies.
Although there were minor delays due to the festive season, efforts have been ramped up to meet the target timelines.
Acharya highlighted that the current focus is on tasks such as tying rods for the parapet slope, placing pillars on the towers, and constructing drain covers.
“We have completed around 15 percent of the work. If there are no budget constraints, we are confident that the construction will be completed on time. So far, Rs 66 million has been paid to the construction company,” Acharya said.
Bharatpur Metropolitan City Mayor Renu Dahal also shared details about the project’s funding. The provincial government has allocated Rs 100 million for the stadium, but the federal government has yet to release Rs 250 million for the current fiscal year.
Mayor Dahal expressed confidence that the budget would be allocated soon, as the necessary documents have already been sent to the Ministry of Finance after discussions with the Finance Minister and Secretary.
“The file was sent to the Ministry of Finance two months ago, and I have received assurances that the budget will be released in a few days. We do not expect any disruption in the work due to the budget, as both the provincial and federal governments have committed to timely release,” said Mayor Dahal.
The construction project took a new direction after the Dhurmus Suntali Foundation, which initially handled the project, faced financial challenges and transferred the ownership to Bharatpur Metropolitan City.
The stadium is being constructed by the Himalayan Kalinchowk BBR JV, which has already begun work on the two VIP towers, a 10,000-capacity parapet, the playing field, and pitch.
The Dhurmus Suntali Foundation had previously built a 5,000-capacity parapet, bringing the total expected capacity of the stadium to 15,000 once the current work is completed.
The construction agreement, signed on Ashad 23, stipulates that the project will be completed within 30 months at an estimated cost of Rs 785 million. The construction company has expressed confidence that the stadium will be completed ahead of schedule, with plans for international-level games to be hosted once the stadium is finished.
Mayor Dahal emphasized that the collaborative efforts of the federal, provincial, and local governments aim to complete the stadium as soon as possible to host sports competitions and promote international sporting events.
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