Kirtipur Cricket Stadium Lease Extended: Government Approves Prolonged Agreement
The government has decided to extend the lease agreement for the Kirtipur International Cricket Stadium, which is currently operated under a lease by the Nepal Cricket Association from Tribhuvan University. This decision was announced by government spokesperson and Minister for Education and Sports, Sashmit Pokharel, following a cabinet meeting on Monday. The recent completion of the stadium’s construction, including floodlights, had sparked uncertainty about the facility’s future.
The stadium, situated within Tribhuvan University, spans an area of 76 ropani. The university had formed a land investigation committee to reclaim encroached land within its premises, subsequently issuing warnings based on the committee’s report to restore the encroached areas. Eighteen different organizations, including the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), were given ultimatums relating to land reclaiming efforts.
Spokesperson for the Nepal Cricket Association, Chumvee Lama, stated that the lease renewal process of the country’s only cricket stadium is imminent. He said, “This issue is not merely about the stadium but involves the nation and the players as well. The government has invested in it, and the facility is an asset for the entire country’s sports sector.” The cricket ground was leased from Tribhuvan University for 25 years, a term set to expire at the end of the Nepali month Baishakh. The process for renewal had begun last year, with the Ministry of Youth and Sports engaging in discussions with Tribhuvan University officials through the National Sports Council (Rakhap).
It has been publicly disclosed that Tribhuvan University has shown some reluctance to renew the lease, partly due to the prolonged cricket competitions held at Kirtipur adversely affecting the university’s academic programs. Students and faculty faced significant difficulties moving around the campus during sporting events, heightening dissatisfaction. Dr. Dipendra Parajuli, Director of the University Student Welfare and Sports Directorate at Tribhuvan University, informed that all organizations within the university, including the cricket stadium, were issued 35-day notices to clear the land.
Regarding the Kirtipur stadium, Dr. Parajuli commented, “It is necessary to formulate a policy for its management. Such a policy is feasible. There are larger issues here than the stadium itself. If any structure must be removed in the future, this notice will provide guidance.” He also clarified rumors circulating on social media about demolishing the stadium, emphasizing that these were baseless and false. The stadium is the property of Tribhuvan University and will not be demolished.
Meanwhile, the Nepalese government has successfully expanded the structure of the Kirtipur cricket grounds with an investment of hundreds of millions of rupees and has prioritized it in the upcoming budget. Recently, nearly one billion rupees were spent to install a 10,000-seat para-pit and floodlights, enhancing the stadium’s standards. The Ministry of Urban Development constructed the para-pit for NPR 437.7 million and installed floodlights for NPR 421.9 million. During Sushila Karki’s tenure as Prime Minister, the Kirtipur Cricket Stadium project was approved as a national priority initiative for the coming fiscal year. According to the master plan, further procurement processes for remaining works have been approved to proceed.
The Cricket Association of Nepal plans to further upgrade the stadium next year, including the construction of a VIP room, players’ restrooms, changing rooms, and a media box.