Gautam Buddha Stadium Work Slows, Deadline at Risk

Construction of the Gautam Buddha International Cricket Stadium in Bharatpur has fallen behind schedule, with only 65 percent of the work complete against a January 11 deadline that now looks almost certain to be missed.

Gautam Buddha Stadium construction falls behind

Construction of the Gautam Buddha International Cricket Stadium in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-15 has fallen behind schedule. The project was due to be completed by January 11, but progress stands at only 65 percent so far, according to Bharatpur Metropolitan City engineer Adarsh Pokhrel.

The stadium is one of the most closely watched cricket infrastructure projects in Nepal. It was revived by Bharatpur Metropolitan City after the Dhurmus–Suntali Foundation handed the responsibility back, saying it could not carry the work forward because of financial constraints. The metropolitan city then signed a contract with the Himalayan–Kalinchowk BBR JV on July 8, 2024, with Bagmati Province funding 70 percent of the project and the metropolitan city covering the remaining 30 percent.

With the construction period nearly over, the stadium's first variation order was approved on Asoj 28. The contract was initially signed for Rs 785.09 million including VAT, but the cost has now risen to Rs 862.48 million. The company says the increase means not only a higher cost but also additional construction work, which is another reason the project will not be completed within the contract period.

Why the stadium work slowed down

Pokhrel said the construction company halted work for a period after delays in the release of funds, which put the project behind the contract schedule. Under the agreement, the metropolitan city is to receive 70 percent of the stadium payment from Bagmati Province, and work was affected because the province was late in releasing its budget.

Samrat Silwal, the construction company's manager, said the company itself was also slow, so it does not look likely that the work will be completed by January. He pointed to rising prices of construction materials, changing weather, and the need to build on old structures as factors that prevented the work from finishing on time. Because construction is being carried out on an old structure, technical decisions have at times conflicted with one another, which has also caused problems.

With work on the playing field in particular running late, it is almost certain that construction will not finish on time. The construction company is therefore preparing to ask Bharatpur Metropolitan City for an extension, and an application for an extension must be submitted 35 days before the contract expires.

Gautam Buddha Stadium remaining work

According to Santosh Acharya, divisional engineer at Bharatpur Metropolitan City, the main work remaining is on the playing field. Four layers of soil must be laid and pipes installed within them. Soft soil will then be spread on top and Baruna grass planted, the final steps before the ground can host cricket.

Work on the two towers has reached its final stage. Of the four parapets, two have been completed, while the third is 90 percent done and the fourth 70 percent. Electrical installation also remains, though Acharya said it would not take long if the construction company works regularly. Around 80 workers are currently on site each day, and work continued even during Dashain.

The contrast with the venue hosting this season's cricket could hardly be sharper. While the TU Ground in Kirtipur was upgraded for NPL Season 3 and is staging every match of the tournament, Bharatpur's ground remains a construction site. The government's wider venue ambitions, including plans for eight floodlit stadiums, underline how much of Nepal's cricket infrastructure is still being built rather than played on.

Chitwan cricket stakes in the stadium delay

The delay matters beyond Bharatpur. Chitwan is home to a national-level cricket club, the Chitwan Rhinos, and enthusiasm for the Nepal Premier League has grown in recent times, creating pressure to complete the stadium quickly so that international matches can be played in Chitwan.

Acting Mayor of Bharatpur Metropolitan City Chitrasen Adhikari said the metropolitan city is ready to provide all the support the construction company needs, and that he has been urging it to finish the work quickly. He said that although there were some delays in payment in the last fiscal year, the metropolitan city has facilitated everything else.

Adhikari added that with cricket growing in popularity across the country, the metropolitan city is eager to see the stadium completed quickly so that national and international matches can be held in Bharatpur. For now, though, Chitwan's fans must follow their team from Kirtipur, through the live scores page, the schedule and the points table, while the ground they hope to fill waits for its outfield, its grass and its lights. Fans planning a future trip can also check tickets and streaming options for the season's remaining fixtures.