WRSDC signs deal for Pokhara Stadium

Pokhara, March 9

Western Regional Sports Development Committee (WRSDC) entrusted Kathmandu-based ND Engineering Consultancy to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) for the construction of Pokhara Stadium football grounds and 30,000-capacity parapet here today.

WRSDC Chairperson Khaga Raj Poudel and ND Engineering Consultancy Chairperson Niranjan Dumre signed the memorandum of understanding in the presence of MoYS Secretary Mahesh Prasad Dahal amidst a programme.

Consultancy’s Chairperson Dumre said the DPR would be prepared within two months. “The DPR includes soil test and structural design among others and the total budget to construct a stadium can be estimated only after the finalisation of the design and the DRP is prepared. The parapet will accommodate at least 30,000 spectators,” said Dumre.

MoYS Secretary Dahal said the government would allocate the budget for the construction of the stadium in the next fiscal year only after the DPR was ready. “We need to construct the stadium at the earliest as we are planning to organise women’s football competition under the South Asian Games in 2019 in this venue,” he added. He said the National Sports Council needed to heed more towards the project than the ministry.

All Nepal Football Association Deputy Secretary General Ganesh Bhattarai said Pokhara could be developed as the sports training centre. “Sports should not be influenced by political interests,” he added.

Pokhara Stadium occupies 415 ropanis of land and all the infrastructure were prepared during the National Games in 2000. Most of the facilities are in dilapidated situation, especially after the devastating earthquake in 2015. Construction of a multi-purpose covered hall at the cost of Rs 140 million is underway inside the stadium, while volleyball training centre and four badminton courts are being prepared. Infrastructure for lawn tennis and archery have been developed, while Chaudhary Group has started works to prepare the DPR to construct cricket grounds.