Narayangadh, Chitwan: The construction of the Gautam Buddha International Cricket Stadium, which had been temporarily halted due to various reasons, is set to resume in the near future.

The construction of the stadium had come to a standstill when the Dhurmus-Suntali Foundation, run by comedians Sitaram Kattel and Kunjana Ghimire, withdrew its involvement in the project, citing budgetary constraints.

Mayor Renu Dahal of Bharatpur Metropolitan City has announced that the remaining construction work for the stadium will be completed by the metropolitan city itself. Speaking at an event organized for riverbank cleanup and tree sapling planting along the Narayani River, Mayor Dahal pledged to finish the project at any cost, acknowledging the concerns and anxieties of the local community.

She stated, "We have received numerous warnings from the public, and there are concerns and apprehensions among the people regarding this project. Through this event, I want to assure you that the Gautam Buddha International Stadium will be constructed during our tenure."

Mayor Dahal also pointed out that a significant loan is required to complete the stadium's construction, and there is currently no agreement for the government to cover the loan. This has made it challenging to move forward with the construction process.

Although the government had initially allocated Rs 120 million for the project at the end of the previous fiscal year (2022/23), the budget was returned within one week. However, Mayor Dahal assured that the budget would be re-released soon.

To manage the extensive budget requirements for the stadium's completion, Mayor Dahal emphasized that the construction would proceed in phases rather than all at once. She also mentioned that after following the necessary due processes, the metropolitan city would collaborate with the Bagmati Province government to advance the construction project.

The resumption of construction on the Gautam Buddha International Cricket Stadium is anticipated to be a significant development for sports enthusiasts and the local community in Chitwan.