Kathmandu. The government has approved a master plan for the construction of an international standard cricket stadium at Tribhuvan University (TU) campus, Kirtipur. A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Thursday approved the master plan of the stadium on the proposal of the Ministry of Urban Development and determined the national priority for the project. As per the master plan, the construction of the stadium is estimated to cost around Rs 10 billion.

Similarly, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport and Urban Development Kulman Ghising said that the stadium was the first cricket ground of the country and its contribution would be significant in the promotion of international sports and tourism.

Stating that development and modernization of the stadium was strategically important for Nepal, it was decided to proceed with the construction of the cricket stadium by securing resources as per the master plan, as it was necessary to have a well-equipped cricket stadium to play international games.

Ghising said that the cabinet has approved the tender process for the construction of the second phase of the construction of the ragshala as per the master plan and agreement on land as the national priority project.

Minister Ghising, who visited the site for the construction of the first phase of the stadium a few days ago, had said that the second phase of stadium expansion would be forwarded so that there would be no budget crunch by prioritizing the construction work as per the master plan.

The land contract agreement signed between TU and Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) for the use of the cricket ground is expiring in April 2083. The meeting also directed the bodies concerned to sign an agreement between the TU and the Ministry of Youth Sports and the National Sports Council for the use of land required for the master plan as per the prevailing law.

Currently, the first phase of the stadium is under construction. The construction of the stadium is in full swing before the Nepal Premier League (NPL) that is scheduled to start from November 1