Two cricket stadiums to be opened together

BY BASANTA PARAJULI / BOMLAL GIRI,Chitwan, Mar. 5: Preparations are underway to jointly inaugurate the Extratech Oval being constructed in Tilottama Municipality of Rupandehi district and Gautam Buddha International Cricket Stadium (GBICS) being built in Bharatpur.

Extratech Oval Managing Director Binod Kunwar from Gulmi has invested approximately Rs. 600 million solely for the construction of Extratech Oval while Bharatpur Municipality has taken initiation for the construction of GBICS.

After a team from Extratech, including engineers, visited the GBICS, an agreement was reached between Bharatpur Metropolitan City Mayor Renu Dahal and Extratech’s Managing Director Binod Kunwar to expedite the construction and inaugurate both stadiums at the same time. 

A team, including the Mayor, is expected to visit the Extratech Oval soon. With this, the two cricket stadiums will successfully connect Lumbini Province and Bagmati Province.

The contract for the GBICS was awarded to Himalayan Kalinchowk BB RJV at Rs. 780 million. 

According to Senior Division 

Engineer of Bharatpur Metropolitan City, Santosh Acharya, there are 22 months remaining to complete the project.

"We are also preparing to complete the final finishing work within next 20 to 22 months. Since it will be completed around the same time, let's prepare to inaugurate both stadiums together. This will add new enthusiasm for cricket fans and players," said Kunwar.

Mayor Dahal has also supported the proposal to inaugurate both stadiums at the same time. She said that construction work will be expedited to inaugurate both stadiums at the same time. She also said that there is no budget shortage for the construction of the stadium.

 She said, “Currently, a total of Rs. 400 million has been deposited in the metropolis account including Rs. 250 million from the federal government, Rs. 100 million from the provincial government and Rs. 50 million from the metropolis itself.” 

The construction of the GBICS which has a 30-month completion deadline is 20 per cent completed within eight months. According to Senior Division Engineer Acharya, the construction of the GBICS is advancing in phases. Currently, the construction of the parapet for 15,000 spectators is underway at a fast pace. “While we have focused on the parapet and there may not be much visible progress in the field itself, physical progress is visible as work on the pitch and grass planting continues,” he added. 

Both stadiums are geographically close and the environment is similar. Once the Narayanghat-Butwal road construction is completed, travel between the two venues will be possible in two hours. With direct flights available from Bharatpur to Bhairahawa, it will be easier to organise leagues and international competitions in the future, as both Mayor Dahal and Kunwar believe.